The landscape of fibre broadband in the UK is rapidly evolving, with over a fifth of premises now enjoying the choice of two or more fibre broadband providers. This development can be attributed to the efforts of alternative network operators across the country.
Recent data from Point Topic reveals that nearly two thirds of UK premises, totaling 20.4 million, now have access to fibre broadband as of March-end. This represents a notable increase from six months ago when fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) coverage stood at 54.5% or 17.4 million premises.
A key aspect of this growth is the increasing competition in the market. Approximately 7 million premises now have the option to select from two or more FTTP networks, with 778,000 of these having coverage from three or more providers.
This trend towards greater choice has triggered market consolidation, evidenced by recent merger and acquisition activities. For instance, major alternative network provider CityFibre acquired Lit Fibre in March.
CityFibre’s FTTP network now spans 3.6 million premises and serves 400,000 customers through various retail ISPs. Notably, the company achieved breakeven in the first quarter of this year. CityFibre is spearheading a cohort of alternative network operators responsible for a significant portion of the market’s expansion.
Other players are also making substantial strides. FW Networks reported a remarkable 90% quarterly growth in premises passed, while Grain Connect saw a 59% growth in its coverage around Cumbria.
Nexfibre, a joint venture involving InfraVia Capital Partners, Liberty Global, and Telefónica, achieved a 54% growth rate and recently reached 1 million premises. Their ambition is to target 5 million premises in the coming years.
In addition to the efforts of alternative operators, Openreach, the incumbent, extended FTTP coverage to 946,000 additional premises in the first quarter, pushing its total footprint to 12.9 million premises, covering over 40% of UK properties.
This expansion is translating into tangible benefits for consumers, with the number of premises unable to access high-speed broadband decreasing. By the end of March, only 19% of UK premises lacked access to gigabit-capable networks, down from 21% in the previous quarter.
Despite these advancements, there remains work to be done to ensure universal access to high-speed broadband across the UK. The concerted efforts of both incumbents and alternative network operators will be crucial in bridging this digital divide.
