Altnets

What are altnets?

An altnet is a broadband provider that lays its own cables. That’s more unusual than you might think; the telecoms infrastructure in the UK is mostly built and operated by just two companies. It’s much more common for a broadband provider to deliver its service via the BT Openreach network than to develop its own network. Altnets are different because they build and operate their own physical networks.

Because they are putting the cables in the ground themselves, altnets tend to start out in a small geographical area and then expand as the business becomes successful. Altnets often have strong links to their local area and make that part of their corporate identity.

Altnets are a modern phenomenon and have nothing to do with the UK’s older, slower legacy telecoms systems. So they’re full fibre only (except for Hull’s KCOM, which is an anomaly).

What does Altnets mean?

“Altnet” is short for “alternative network provider”. By developing their own telecoms infrastructure, they offer an alternative to the two big players in the UK broadband market.

The biggest developer of telecoms infrastructure in the UK is BT Openreach. Over 99% of homes and businesses can connect to the Openreach network and over 650 providers use it to deliver broadband services.^[1] Virgin Media also has a substantial footprint, with the network reaching over 53% of UK homes.^[2] If a company is putting cables in the ground and it’s not either Openreach or Virgin Media, it’s an altnet. Only a very small fraction of UK broadband infrastructure has been built by altnets.

List of UK altnet broadband providers

4th Utility

The Cheshire-based altnet sees ultrafast internet as “a necessity, not a luxury”. They make a point of offering 30-day rolling contracts to make broadband more accessible to people who can’t afford to commit to a 24-month deal.

Be Fibre

Boasting speeds of up to 2,300Mbps in some areas (well into the gigabit category), Be Fibre is also known for symmetrical uploads and downloads.

Brsk

This altnet operates exclusively in the north of England (at least for now). Brsk offers a range of speeds up to gigabit-capable broadband.

Community Fibre

This provider boasts of being London’s biggest fibre-only network and is available to about a third of homes in London.

Fibrus

The Northern Irish altnet started life as a provider of rural broadband with the aim of reaching poorly-connected places. It now covers Cumbria as well as all six counties of Northern Ireland.

Gigaclear

This altnet is focused on delivering rural broadband and geographical coverage is increasing.

Hyperoptic

Another London-based altnet, smaller than Community Fibre.

KCOM

Unlike other altnets, Hull provider KCOM originated in the early days of telecoms and is famous for its distinctive cream phone boxes.

Trooli

Trooli has strong links with south-east England.

Quickline

The mission for Quickline is to transform rural broadband in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. It has received government funding to develop gigabit-capable broadband in remote communities.

Wight Fibre

This is the altnet for the Isle of Wight and not available anywhere else. The mission? “To make the Isle of Wight one of the best connected places on the planet.”

Zzoomm

This altnet began life in Henley-on-Thames but has expanded beyond that.

How to find altnets in my area

We’ve explained that altnets tend to be closely linked to a specific geographical area. If you’re outside that area, you can’t become one of their customers. Some parts of the UK aren’t served by any altnets at all. Put your postcode into our address checker to see every tariff that’s available for your home through Go.Compare. Scroll down to the provider logos to see at a glance which providers there are to choose from and click on a logo to see results for just that provider.

What are the benefits of alternative network providers?

• Speed: altnets all offer full fibre as standard and an increasing number are developing gigabit-capable networks
• Price: they often undercut traditional broadband providers
• Links to your area: you’re supporting a local business that’s improving broadband connections where you live
• Good ethos: altnets very often have cheaper social tariffs for people on low incomes and help the community where they’re based in multiple ways
• Fewer price rises: it’s not the case for every altnet, but some make a point of ruling out mid-contract price rises
• Flexible contracts: altnets want to reduce barriers to getting connected, so they’re more likely than traditional providers to offer short-term broadband contracts.
• Customer service: an altnet is more likely to base its customer service department in the same area as its customers, and they tend to have positive feedback on review sites too

Are smaller providers reliable?

Yes, smaller broadband providers are just as likely as big companies to offer a reliable service. Of course service disruptions and internet outages still happen, but being with a small broadband provider doesn’t make them more likely.

Altnets are bound by the same regulations as any other telecoms provider and you have the same rights as a customer.

Can I get fibre with altnets?

Yes, with an altnet you won’t get anything but full fibre. The only exception is KCOM in Hull, which has been operating since 1904 and has a network of older-style copper telephone wires. That’s unusual. Every other altnet began in the 21st century and has always been fibre-only.

Can I leave my current broadband early?

You have the right to end your broadband contract early, but your provider also has the right to charge exit fees. We explain more in our guide to broadband cancellation rights.

What other broadband options are available?

If you’re with an altnet, you’ll be using a fibre optic network that was installed by the company itself. This is unusual and there are plenty of other types of broadband:

• Full fibre through a provider using the BT Openreach fibre network (which is most of them)
• Hybrid cable and fibre (HFC) through Virgin Media
• Mobile broadband on the 4G or 5G phone networks
• Hybrid fibre or ADSL (if your home still has an active older-style connection)

Put your postcode into our address checker to see all the broadband products available for your home, then you can compare the options.

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[1] BT Openreach, Our broadband network

[2] Virgin Media, Postcode checker and coverage FAQs