en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Independent Networks Cooperative Association (INCA) plans to launch a week-long national campaign, "Broadband Independents' Day," on July 4, 2026, aimed at raising awareness of alternative broadband networks (altnets) and helping households and businesses discover available internet service provider options.
According to INCA data, altnets currently have over 3.6 million active broadband connections in the UK, with more than 850,000 customers switching to independent providers in 2025 alone. This figure roughly matches the number of broadband lines lost by Openreach during the same period. Altnets now cover approximately 20 million UK premises, but the adoption rate (around 18%) has not grown as quickly as some had anticipated.
Research commissioned by INCA and conducted by Whitestone Insight found that about two-thirds of independent customers believe smaller internet providers care more about their customers, while nearly half of national customers expressed a desire for the same treatment. Altnets have an average rating of approximately 4.4 out of 5 on Trustpilot, compared to 1.8 for Sky (including Sky Broadband), 1.3 for BT, 2 for TalkTalk, and 2.4 for Virgin Media / O2.
INCA CEO Paddy Paddison stated that independent providers have been building world-class full-fiber networks across the UK for years, supporting local communities and delivering quality services, yet many consumers and businesses still default to a few familiar brands. The industry is no longer a fringe part of the market; millions of premises can access independent broadband providers, hundreds of thousands of customers switched last year, and evidence shows outstanding performance in customer satisfaction and community impact, with altnets being the only segment offering 100% full-fiber connectivity.
"Broadband Independents' Day" aims to help people realize that they have more choices than they think and to discover providers that may already be nearby. The campaign will highlight the role of altnets in the UK broadband market, encouraging households and businesses to look beyond the "big-name" brands. It focuses on how altnets bring more choice while competing with existing providers in connectivity and customer experience, and benefit local communities through employment, skills, local supply chains, and social impact.
