What is an "AltNet"?
The rise of Alternative Networks in the UK broadband market.
The Monopoly Breakers
For a century, UK telecoms meant “The Post Office” (later BT/Openreach). Then cable came along (Virgin). Everyone else was just renting lines.
An AltNet (Alternative Network) is a company that builds its own independent physical infrastructure. They dig their own roads. They lay their own fibre. They are not reliant on Openreach.
The AltNet Boom
Driven by private investment, hundreds of AltNets have sprung up to wire Britain.
CityFibre: The giant. National scale, wholesale only.
Hyperoptic: Focuses on apartment blocks in big cities.
Community Fibre: Dominant in London.
B4RN / Gigaclear: Focus on rural farmers and villages left behind by the big guys.
Why Choose an AltNet?
1. Technology: Because they are new, they build 100% Fibre (XGS-PON) from day one. No legacy copper.
2. Price: They are keen to attract customers and grow their networks quickly. This leads to aggressive pricing (e.g., £25 for Gig speeds).
3. Symmetry: Almost all AltNets offer symmetrical upload speeds, unlike Openreach or Virgin.
The Consolidation Risk
There are too many AltNets. In the coming years, many will merge or be bought (likely by CityFibre or Virgin). This is generally fine—the fibre is still in the ground—but your billing provider might change name. For now, AltNets represent the absolute best value and performance in the UK market.