How Dynamic and Resilient Independent Providers are Driving Competition, Lowering Costs, and Powering the UK’s Gigabit Future
A Point Topic Report For INCA
April 2025
The UK’s independent network operators – Altnets – are not just building networks, they’re building the foundation of a fairer, faster and more resilient digital United Kingdom. This year’s report, my first as INCA CEO, shows the continued growth of Altnets from niche innovators to national competitors.
In just a few years, Altnets have grown to reach over a third of UK premises and often provide the only fibre connection in rural and hard-to-reach areas as well as previous urban not spots. From our towns and cities to our farms and homes, Altnets have led the way in delivering faster, more affordable broadband with outstanding customer service and satisfaction.
As we approach OFCOM’s Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR26), the decisions that are made now will shape the future of competition in UK Telecoms. We cannot allow dominance by legacy operators under the guise of market maturity. To allow for fair competition, Altnets need the space to grow, regulatory certainty and above all a level playing field on pricing and access.
The UK’s digital future will be won or lost in the next regulatory cycle. INCA is fighting to guarantee the Altnets and their investors get a fair bet. INCA envisions a future where infrastructure competition thrives, and consumer choice is real. We call on the policymakers, the regulators and the investors to recognise the transformative impact of Altnets and to provide a regulatory framework that empowers them.
This report is more than a set of statistics – it’s a call to action. We must ensure that the positive change and impressive gains of the last decade are not lost through policy or regulatory missteps but instead are accelerated. The UK’s digital future and economic growth depend upon it.
Paddy Paddison
CEO, INCA
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