Analysis · 5 min read
The great UK altnet consolidation has begun
After years of land-grab overbuild, the UK’s independent fibre builders are entering a long-predicted phase of mergers and rationalisation.
By Elena Marsh · Infrastructure Editor
United Kingdom
EuropeLast updated 14 Jun 2026
- Population
- 67.6M
- Gigabit-capable
- ~83%
- of premises
- Subsea landings
- 50+
- cable systems
- Network builders
- 100+
- altnets + incumbents
Overview
The United Kingdom is in the middle of a once-in-a-generation upgrade from copper and cable to full fibre. A competitive market of more than a hundred network builders — led by Openreach and a wave of well-funded altnets — is rewiring the country, while London remains one of the most important interconnection and subsea landing hubs in the world.
- Population
- 67.6 million
- Economy
- c. $3.3tn GDP — services-led, with a large digital economy
Digital infrastructure summary
Gigabit-capable coverage now reaches the large majority of UK premises, driven by competing full-fibre rollouts. Copper retirement is underway, with the national PSTN switch-off reshaping the access market.
Fibre coverage: Full fibre (FTTP) available to a majority of premises and climbing rapidly
National broadband strategy
Project Gigabit is the government’s £5bn subsidy programme to bring gigabit broadband to premises the commercial market would not otherwise reach, complementing private investment of tens of billions of pounds.
Ecosystem
Major operators
- Openreach
- CityFibre
- Virgin Media O2
Data centres
- Slough Data Centre Campus
Subsea cable landings
- 2Africa
- Grace Hopper
Key cities
Projects
- Project Gigabit
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Guides · 4 min read
The PSTN switch-off, explained
The copper phone network is being retired across Europe. Here is what that means for consumers, businesses and critical services.
By Elena Marsh · Infrastructure Editor