Posted on 4th January 2021

The UK is currently in the midst of a broadband revolution. Rising expectations from consumers and demands such as increased homeworking and ultra high-definition video streaming mean people are more dependent on fast, reliable connectivity than ever.
As a result, there's huge pressure on network operators to upgrade their services and roll out new, faster technologies in order to cope with these demands. 
The government aims to connect every property in the UK to gigabit-capable broadband by 2025 - a highly ambitious target and one that will require huge amounts of investment to succeed. 
While there are several options for delivering these services, such as cable, it will be fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connectivity that will be used for the majority of the rollout. And the good news is that there are now more firms looking to roll out this technology and answer the challenges of deployment than ever.
The state of the UK's FTTP rollout
According to the latest figures from Ofcom, nearly eight million homes in the UK - around 27 per cent of properties - now have access to gigabit-capable broadband. Of these, more than five million are connected using FTTP. 
This means 18 per cent of homes in the UK are now able to access this technology, up from just one in ten in 2019 and only three per cent in 2017.
But just as significant as the number of homes able to access these technologies is who is delivering them. In the past, the rollout of new telecoms services would have been largely the domain of Openreach. 
While the UK's largest provider is still set to connect millions of homes over the coming years, there are now a wide range of alternative network providers - or altnets - providing competition and delivering services to areas that would otherwise be overlooked.
How altnets are bringing FTTP to more communities
These providers range hugely in size and scope, from large, established names looking to connect entire cities, down to small community-led projects which may only seek to link up a few thousand isolated properties. But between them, they're helping transform the UK's connectivity.
According to the Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA), a trade body representing these operators, these firms recorded growth of around 50 per cent in 2019 compared with the previous year, and are set to see continued strong performance for 2020, despite the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. 
Research by the group forecast that some 2.4 million premises are set to be reached by altnet services by the end of 2020. Meanwhile, by 2025, it estimated around 15.7 million homes and businesses will be reached by these networks, with around 4.3 million live connections.
Chief executive of INCA Malcolm Corbett said the significant increase in altnet investment in 2020 compared with the previous year is a "very promising" sign for the sector. 
He added: "These impressive results are reflected in the scale of investment in the UK’s digital infrastructure. We calculate that a commitment of £6.6 billion has been announced for the independent operators. 
"Coronavirus has demonstrated clearly the reliance we all have on connectivity. We look forward to seeing government continuing to prioritise renewal of the UK's digital infrastructure, both fixed-line and wireless."
How Comtec is helping altnets 
However, if altnets are to constitute their run of success and deliver FTTP services to all parts of the UK, there are still a number of challenges ahead, including both technical and regulatory issues. 
For instance, the key concerns expressed by altnets include securing wayleaves, access to the right skilled labour and overbuilding by Openreach or other competitors.
When it comes to securing the technologies, tools and equipment needed to roll out FTTP services quickly and effectively, Comtec is here to help. We offer an end-to-end 'one-stop shop' for everything altnets need - not just products, but also services, rack and cabinet design and integration and our technical consultancy services, backed up by our many years of experience.
Our independent, unbiased advice ensures altnets get the right solutions to meet their goals without exceeding their budgets.
With dedicated account managers on call to support customers and provide innovative solutions to any problems that emerge in the field, Comtec helps ensure that no matter what challenges altnets may come across when rolling out next-generation broadband, they have the tools to succeed.