- Altnets say Openreach’s overbuild strategy risks wasting public investment and damaging smaller players.
- The dispute comes as Ofcom faces pressure to ensure fair competition in Britain’s broadband market.
What happened: Altnets criticised Openreach for aggressively expanding fibre into areas already served by competitors
Openreach, BT Group’s broadband infrastructure arm, has drawn sharp criticism from the UK’s alternative network operators (Altnets) following reports of aggressive fibre expansion into regions already served by competitors. Openreach’s latest wholesale pricing strategy and accelerated build plans have sparked fears among smaller broadband providers that the company is attempting to crowd them out of key local markets.
Groups such as the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) have voiced concern that such “overbuild” behaviour risks discouraging private investment in Britain’s full-fibre infrastructure. Altnets argue that overlapping coverage not only leads to inefficiency but also threatens to derail the government’s Project Gigabit targets, designed to achieve nationwide gigabit-capable connectivity.
Also Read: INCA slams Ofcom over Openreach FTTP discount ruling
Also Read: Ofcom clears Openreach FTTP offer
Why it’s important
The growing dispute highlights long-standing tensions between incumbent operators and newer market entrants in the UK’s telecoms sector. While Openreach maintains that its nationwide rollout plans are critical to achieving equitable fibre access, altnets warn that unchecked expansion by a dominant player could stifle innovation and competition.
Ofcom is likely to face renewed scrutiny over whether current regulatory frameworks adequately protect smaller networks from anti-competitive practices. The regulator previously endorsed Equinox, Openreach’s wholesale pricing offer, despite industry opposition — a move critics say has tilted the playing field.
The issue also raises questions about how best to balance national broadband coverage goals with market diversity. If altnets struggle to remain viable, the UK risks reverting to a quasi-monopoly model in fibre infrastructure, limiting consumer choice and slowing long-term digital innovation.
