Openreach Offers Free FTTP to UK Fixed Wireless Broadband ISP Users

Network operator Openreach (BT), which has recently taken some flak for its broadband discounts (here), have launched another somewhat curious new promotion for ISPs that cuts the rental charge on all New to Network (NTN) full fibre (FTTP) lines to £0 for the first 12 months when the customer originates from a Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) service.

Firstly, it is important to caveat that New to Network (NTN) means a property (house, flat etc.) where there have been no Openreach products or services on the relevant line at any point in the last 90 consecutive days prior to the date of the Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) order (excluding any premises on ‘New Sites’, like new build homes etc.).

The goal of this promotion is thus much more niche than the prior debate over their proactive migrations offer, which caused plenty of fuss. But this promotion seems to be targeted at ISPs, such as those with a pre-existing fixed wireless broadband base, which may want a more attractive route for encouraging those existing customers to take-up FTTP instead via Openreach’s network (once deployed).

The offer will only be open to take between 17th November 2025 and 31st March 2026.

Openreach Briefing

Openreach is introducing a special offer where the rental charge will effectively be £0 (after rebate) for the first 12 months on all FTTP New to Network (NTN) that originate from Fixed Wireless Access (FWA). The special offer will be applicable to orders:

1. Placed and completed within the Special Offer Window (17 November 2025 to 31 March 2026 inclusive); and
2. Where the line has both originated from FWA and is NTN.

To participate in the offer, each Communication Provider must submit a list of NAD keys representing their active FWA customer base prior to the start of the offer period, which will be kept confidential. For any NTN FTTP order placed and completed during the offer window at a NAD on that list, the Communication Provider who placed the completed order will benefit from the Special Offer Price. Once live, the FTTP rental will be charged at standard rates and rebated quarterly in arrears, resulting in a net zero rental cost for the first year.

Just to give this some wider context. A number of alternative networks with both their own-built FTTP and FWA bases are also now known to be harnessing Openreach’s network to expand their off-net reach (example). The new offer might thus help to bring some of their FWA base over to FTTP.

The catch is in regard to whether or not this is going to be more of an incentive for the ISP or one that retail providers actually pass on to their customers as a discount too. In any case, FWA only accounts for a very small portion of the UK’s broadband base, so it’s not going to move the dial much.