Broadband Altnets See Encouragement in UK Gov’s Statement of Strategic Priorities

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA), which represents many of the UK’s alternative broadband networks, has today welcomed the Government’s publication this week of their proposed Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for telecommunications – suggesting it aligns with their perspective on the market and future policy desires.

The SSP typically reflects a legal mechanism that is underpinned by part of the Digital Economy Act 2017 and is designed to set out the strategic priorities to support growth, which Ofcom must have regard to when exercising its regulatory functions. The previous Conservative government set one of these for telecoms in 2019 and the current Labour government began drafting one last July 2025 (here).

In the broader sense, the Proposed SSP does not usually offer much in the way of surprises and largely summarises targets and programmes that the government, industry and Ofcom were already in the process of doing. But such summaries can still be useful by virtue of helping people to see what broad issues and challenges are currently occupying the industry, as well as how much progress is being made on them.

However, INCA appears to have dug a bit deeper into the text, while choosing to seeing it as a clear signal that competition and investment will remain central to the Government’s telecoms policy. In particular, the association points to the stronger direction it appears to give Ofcom on early intervention, as well as references to Openreach’s sometimes divisive Equinox discounts on FTTP lines, and the restatement of the fair bet principle, among other things.

“The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has adopted a firmer and more directive tone, strengthening expectations that Ofcom must have proper regard for the SSP and improving reporting and transparency,” said INCA’s announcement. The association believes the outcome is a “major win for Altnets on a number of fronts“, stating that it:

• Is a clear endorsement of early intervention where there is a risk of harm to competition, with Ofcom encouraged to act on credible risk rather than waiting for proven damage. 
• Reinforces the expectation that market distortions must be addressed promptly – with the explicit reference to the equinox pricing framework – providing greater certainty for investors and Altnets.
• Underlines that the transition from copper to full fibre must not undermine wholesale competition, key for Altnets to continue to compete and deliver for consumers and businesses nationwide.
• Gives clear recognition of the need to protect incentives for those investing in new fibre infrastructure with the strong restatement of the fair bet principle for all investors, giving reassurance to the financial community backing independent networks.
• Strengthens the investment case across the UK with the emphasis on business connectivity, and rural deployment further strengthens the investment case across the UK.
• Rural deployment further strengthens the investment case across the UK.

In addition, while the SSP signals a future move towards equivalence of input in Physical Infrastructure Access (i.e. access to run fibre via Openreach’s existing cable ducts and poles), it stops short of immediate implementation. INCA believes a clearer pathway would provide greater certainty. On PIA pricing, the focus on transparency and long term certainty was welcomed by the Association which stated its commitment to engage constructively to ensure arrangements support sustainable competition in all parts of the country.

Paddy Paddison, Chief Executive of INCA, said:

“This is an important moment for the sector. The government has backed Altnets, they have backed early intervention to protect competition, reinforced the fair bet principle for investors, and made clear that the fibre transition must not weaken wholesale competition.

We were also full of praise for the support we’ve had from Minister Baroness Lloyd following a meeting on Monday 12 January where our members shared the challenges of our industry alongside the opportunities of a competitive marketplace.”

Our members are delivering gigabit connectivity at pace across the UK. This clear directive strengthens the framework that allows them to continue doing so, with competition and long-term investment firmly at its heart.”

A spokesperson for ITS Fibre said:

“ITS welcomes the SSP, taking a positive view of its approach and hope that OFCOM fully reflect this in the closely forthcoming Telecoms Access Review (TAR) consultation that is due to be published this quarter. In particular, being the most significant ‘Altnet’ focused wholly on the Business Market we are encouraged by direct references to the importance of further infrastructure competition into business areas without current competitive deployments and the statement that this should be a priority.

We also welcome the reference that supports specifically the development of plurality within the leased line market. We are pleased that our work with INCA has resulted in the recognition in the SSP of these areas that fully support the Governments pro-competition, pro-growth agenda.”

A spokesperson for CommunityFibre said:

“We warmly welcome the Government’s decision to act on the evidence provided by Community Fibre and INCA. By amending the Statement of Strategic Priorities to explicitly include the ‘fair bet’ principle, Ministers have sent a crucial signal that regulation will support all firms making large investments to upgrade the UK’s broadband network, rather than protecting the returns of the incumbent alone.

This clarity is essential to encourage further investment which delivers the competition that drives the nation’s economic growth.”

We’d probably caution against reading too much into what the SSP might deliver, since there’s often a gap between the drive or positivity of its language and actual delivery. The real key will be in what Ofcom ultimately decides next month when they publish the outcome of their 5-yearly Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR), which will set the core market rules until 2031. But we aren’t expecting this TAR to deliver too many significant changes, as it’s more of an interim update to the existing national regulatory strategy.