Openreach vs Altnets – how these broadband networks differ

Jump to section:

• What is the Openreach network?
• What is an Altnet?
• The biggest differences between Openreach vs Altnets
• Network congestion and speed
• Infrastructure upgrades
• Repairs and customer support
• Coverage and availability
• Pricing and competition
• Which broadband provider should you choose?
• Everything else you ever wanted to know about Openreach

When searching for a broadband provider in the UK, you’ve likely come across terms like “Openreach network” and “Altnets.” But what do they actually mean? While both provide internet connections to homes and businesses, they do so in very different ways.

What is the Openreach network?

Openreach is the UK’s largest broadband and telephone network. It’s a subsidiary of BT Group that maintains and manages the infrastructure used by major internet providers like BT, Sky, EE, TalkTalk, and Plusnet. If your broadband provider operates through the Openreach network, this means that your internet connection runs through Openreach’s fibre optic and copper cables. That said, Openreach itself doesn’t sell broadband directly to customers.

You might have heard terms like “BT Openreach” or “the Openreach network.” These all refer to the same thing: the nationwide infrastructure Openreach manages. If you have an Openreach box on your wall or an Openreach modem, it means your home is, or can be, connected to this network.

What is an Altnet?

Altnets, or Alternative Network Providers, are newer broadband providers that are challenging the big names and delivering ultrafast, reliable fibre broadband to UK homes. Unlike providers that use Openreach’s network to deliver broadband to clients, Altnets build and run their own broadband networks. Some companies, like Airband, Virgin Media, Zzoomm, and Gigaclear, build and maintain their own infrastructure rather than using Openreach’s network. This gives them more control over pricing, broadband service quality, and network upgrades.

The biggest differences between Openreach vs Altnets

There are certainly some differences; particularly when it comes to things like connectivity and reliability. The key differences are:

Network congestion and speed

Openreach: while most of the Openreach network uses ultrafast fibre cable technology, some parts still rely on older copper cables. This setup is known as FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet), where fibre runs to a nearby street cabinet, but the final connection to the property is delivered over copper wires.

Because copper can’t carry data as quickly as fibre, your broadband speed can be affected – especially during busy times. Factors such as how close your property is to the cabinet, and how many other properties are connected to that same broadband feed (across any of the ISPs that sell over the Openreach network) will impact your speed at peak times.

Altnets: independent altnets have built their systems using predominantly Full Fibre from the start. That means no copper cables, and faster, more reliable connections.

Infrastructure upgrades

Openreach: ISPs using Openreach must wait for Openreach to roll out upgrades like full fibre (FTTP) to benefit from them.

Altnets: These providers can upgrade their networks at their own pace, often bringing gigabit-capable broadband to specific areas faster with their own fibre optic cables.

Repairs and customer support

Openreach: If there’s a fault, your ISP has to coordinate with Openreach to diagnose and fix the issue, which can take time. And we all know that when the internet is down, time moves extra slowly, so this can cause plenty of frustration.

Altnets: Since they own the infrastructure, an altnet provider can identify and resolve problems directly. For example, Airband monitors our own network and can often pick up on outages or issues before customers are aware. We’ll then send our own engineers to fix the issue.

Coverage and availability

Openreach: Covers most of the UK, including rural areas, making it the most widely available network. However, the type of coverage will vary according to whether the connection is copper, part fibre or full fibre, and most rural areas only have a very basic connection.

Altnets: Often focus on high-density urban areas or specific regions, meaning availability is more limited. That said, Airband specialises in providing ultrafast broadband to hard-to-reach rural areas, so this is far from a blanket statement.

Airband also provides ultrafast internet options for homes that can’t access fibre broadband, including fixed wireless access (FWA) and 4G connections.

Pricing and competition

Openreach: While multiple ISPs operate on Openreach’s network, competition keeps prices varied. However, many providers charge similar prices for significantly lower speeds compared to Altnets.

Altnets: Independent alternative networks often deliver much higher speeds, offering far better value for what you pay. While pricing can sometimes be higher due to the costs of running their own infrastructure, the superior performance justifies the investment.

Airband regularly runs offers to keep our prices affordable. Search your postcode to see our latest deals:

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Which broadband provider should you choose?

If affordability and widespread availability are your top priorities, an ISP using Openreach might be your best bet. However, if you live in an area that’s served by an Altnet and want faster speeds, better reliability, and quicker issue resolution, then an independent altnet like Airband is your best bet.

Airband is a specialist rural broadband provider, building and operating FTTP (fibre to the premises) and fixed wireless networks to connect hard-to-reach communities with ultrafast internet.