Five of the UK’s largest alternative fibre network operators have formed the Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) Coalition to advocate for fairer access to Openreach’s physical infrastructure.
The coalition comprises nexfibre, AllPoints Fibre, Community Fibre, Gigaclear, and the newly-merged Netomnia and Brsk. Together, they represent over 5 million premises ready for service, making them one of the largest users of the PIA network.
An economic analysis of Openreach PIA regulation highlighted a pricing imbalance, where alternative operators pay significantly more to access ducts and poles than Openreach charges itself. The Coalition is urging Ofcom, in its upcoming Telecoms Access Review (TAR), to ensure a level playing field for all PIA users.
“Since the conclusion of our last review in 2021 (the WFTMR), Openreach and many other companies have invested in new gigabit-capable networks. Gigabit-capable broadband is now available to more than 23.2 million homes (78 percent of the UK), and more than 17.1 million homes (57 percent) can access full-fibre broadband,” Ofcom said in its website.
About the Coalition Members
nexfibre: A joint venture between InfraVia Capital Partners, Liberty Global, and Telefonica, with £4.5 billion investment to roll out fibre to 5 million premises by 2026.
AllPoints Fibre Network (APFN): An open-access wholesale fibre provider backed by Fern Trading, with £1 billion investment.
Community Fibre: The largest fibre broadband provider in London, covering 1.3 million homes and over 185,000 businesses.
Gigaclear: The largest rural alternative network in the UK, aiming to reach one million rural homes and businesses by 2027.
Netomnia and Brsk: The UK’s fourth-largest fibre network, targeting 3 million premises by 2025 with over £1.3 billion in funding.
The group warns that failure to address this issue will harm competition, deter investment, slow the fibre rollout, and negatively impact the UK’s international competitiveness. Ofcom’s regulation of PIA products, set during the 2021 market review, has been crucial in accelerating fibre broadband rollout by ensuring Openreach’s infrastructure is accessible to other operators.
Giles Rowbotham, spokesperson for the PIA Coalition and General Counsel at nexfibre, emphasized the need for fair pricing, stating, “If left unremedied, this disparity risks choking investment, slowing down the rollout of high-speed broadband across the UK, and therefore limiting consumer choice.”
Ofcom’s upcoming Telecoms Access Review will evaluate the fixed telecoms market and set regulatory frameworks for 2026-31. The Coalition stresses that without decisive action, the progress in the digital infrastructure market could be jeopardized.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
