7 of the biggest and best UK Altnet providers

AltNets are reshaping the UK’s digital landscape, building super fast and reliable internet connections that everyone can afford.

But not all Altnets are created equal. And with over 100 AltNets registered and more on the way, finding the right one for you isn’t easy. So here’s a look at the biggest and best independent internet service providers operating in the UK today.

CityFibre

CityFibre runs the UK’s most extensive independent full-fibre network. With live connections in 25 towns and cities across the UK, it’s the first AltNet to become a nationally recognised brand. In 2021, the firm made its millionth home ready for service. And it’s well on track to increase that figure to 8million by 2024; that’s around one-third of the entire UK broadband market. CityFibre is a major player in the independent service provider space.

Community Fibre

Community Fibre is London’s fastest AlNet Provider. It delivers gigabit-ready broadband to over 500,000 homes in and around the capital. And it’s building networks all the time. Community Fibre boasts the quickest download speeds in London. Its hyperfast network can deliver an incredible 3,000MBps; that’s lightning fast!

Community Fibre beats many of the big-name providers on price. Its packages are up to £20 cheaper than similar deals from BT and Sky. Community Fibre charges no installation fee, and there’s no landline required. This is exactly what high-speed, low-cost internet is all about.

B4RN

Broadband for the Rural North (or B4RN) is a community-led project to bring high-speed, full-fibre broadband to homes and business premises in rural Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Suffolk, and Suffolk. The networks are designed, built, and maintained by local community members who are fed up with being ignored by mainstream internet providers.

Val Winchester, from Chapel-le-Dale, volunteered as a project manager on one of the first builds. “It was a bit chaotic at first, but also really special,” says Val. “Farmers were digging cable trenches, and even people who weren’t interested in B4RN got involved. People would dig their own gardens and their neighbours’. The whole community came together and created something we all needed.”

Cuckoo

An AltNet with a strong ethical focus, Cuckoo donates 1% of its profits to charitable causes. Most of the funds go toward securing and deploying Wi-Fi for charities and aid organisations in the UK and beyond. The rest provides disaster relief and aid in conflict zones, natural disaster sites, refugee camps, and developing communities.

“Not enough is being done to reduce the digital divide and support the vulnerable”, says Cuckoo co-founder Tommy Toner. “The government and big-name providers talk a good game, but we’re taking direct action. More companies need to do the same. Social and corporate responsibility are just as important as making a profit.”

Gigaclear

Gigaclear was founded in 2010 with a simple mission: to enhance rural lifestyles and opportunities by removing location as a barrier to ultrafast, reliable broadband connections. Today, this award-winning AltNet supplies superfast, 900Mbps internet packages to over 250,000 rural homes and businesses in the South West, the Midlands, and the South East.

Gigaclear is one of several AltNet providers that offer a no price rise guarantee. It means Gigaclear customers will never be hit with a nasty bill hike during their contract term.

HS4 internet

HS4 broadband is an affordable option for customers living in the North West. Packages start from just £15.99 p/m. There’s no landline required, helping customers save even more money on their monthly tariff.

HS4 doesn’t throttle broadband during peak usage times. Instead, it guarantees all its download speeds, all of the time. HS4 customers always get the broadband speed they’re paying for.

6Ginternet

Another North-West AltNet provider, 6Ginternet uses innovative air fibre Wi-Fi technology to deliver fast internet at low prices. Packages start from £18.99p/m and guarantee up to 100Mbps download speeds.

6Ginternet will never raise your bill mid-contract, and every connection includes the latest Wi-Fi 6 router, which increases speeds and reliability by over 40%.

6Ginternet has live networks in Burnley, Blackpool, and Blackburn. With so many great AltNets out there, who needs those big providers anymore? So make the switch. It’s time to start paying less for more instead of more for less.

7 of the biggest and best UK Altnet providers

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