INCA Seek Feedback from AltNets to Assess UK Broadband Plans

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA), which represents UK alternative broadband ISP networks, has called on AltNets to help it by participating in a new survey assessing the development of the country’s independent networks.

At present there are upwards of a hundred altnets building alternative “full fibre” (FTTP / H / B) broadband networks to serve homes and businesses across the UK, many of which are attempting to focus on the areas that get missed by Openreach (BT) and Virgin Media (VMO2). See our regularly updated Summary of Full Fibre Build Progress for more. This is before we even mention Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) providers.

The results from last year’s INCA commissioned Point Topic report – ‘Metrics for the UK independent network sector‘ – showed that, as a group, the AltNets were four times larger than a decade ago and continue to attract significant private investment, comparable to that of Openreach.

The same report also found that £12bn was pledged to be invested in the delivery of new full fibre connectivity by independent providers before the end of 2025, a figure that has grown substantially since. The next 2022 report that will flow from this research is expected to show further rapid progress. Suffice to say, the more feedback INCA can get to help inform that report, the better.

Alex Blowers, INCA Chair, said:

“It’s critical that we make sure government and Ofcom understand the scale of investment the sector has generated and the significant progress altnets are making toward the realisation of the UK’s gigabit targets. Contributing to this report – which is open to all alternative network providers, fibre and wireless, INCA member or not – comes at a crucial time as the UK’s telecoms landscape is going through the biggest transformation in its history.

Taking part in this year’s survey gives the independents the opportunity to evidence their collective scale, pace and ability to deliver on the ground.”

Admittedly, some operators may be cautious about sharing more detail of their plans with a third-party, which could be regarded as commercially sensitive data. But INCA assures that the data collected from this survey is “anonymised and aggregated” into a report which will be published in the Spring. The deadline for responses is 25th February 2022 and AltNets can take part by contacting survey@inca.coop .