Carving Out a Niche
Hyperoptic, a prominent player among the UK’s ‘alt-net’ (alternative network) providers, has carved out a significant niche in the full fibre broadband market since its inception in 2011. By building its own Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network, the company has consistently challenged larger, established providers, primarily by focusing on delivering ultrafast speeds, competitive pricing, and high quality of service.
Its initial strategy of targeting large urban apartment blocks and multi-dwelling units (MDUs) allowed for efficient network rollout, creating pockets of extremely fast broadband availability in major UK cities. As it has grown, its focus has broadened to include new-build developments and, more recently, utilising Openreach’s infrastructure to expand its footprint to smaller premises, signaling its ambition for continued expansion.
Quality: Symmetrical Speeds and High Reliability
The core of Hyperoptic’s appeal lies in the quality of its infrastructure and service. Being a full fibre-only provider means its entire network uses fibre optic cables right up to the customer’s property, eliminating the slowdowns associated with older copper wiring used in Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) services.
Speed and Symmetry
Hyperoptic offers a range of high-speed packages, with its top-tier service advertising average speeds of 900Mbps (often marketed as 1Gbps). What truly sets it apart, especially for high-demand users, is the provision of symmetrical speeds on most of its plans (150Mbps and above).
- Symmetrical Speeds: Unlike most legacy networks where upload speeds are significantly slower than download speeds, Hyperoptic’s symmetrical offering means customers’ upload speeds are the same as their download speeds (e.g., 150Mbps download and 150Mbps upload). This is highly beneficial for activities like:
- Working from home with frequent video conferencing.
- Uploading large files (e.g., cloud backups, high-resolution media).
- Online gaming where low latency and high-speed upstream data transfer are critical.
Reliability and Customer Satisfaction
The full fibre technology inherently offers greater stability and reliability compared to older networks. Customers frequently praise the connection’s consistency.
- High Reliability: Customer surveys, such as those conducted by Which?, have consistently awarded Hyperoptic high marks for reliability.
- Customer Service: While some users report longer-than-ideal call waiting times, Hyperoptic generally maintains a strong reputation for customer support, achieving an “Excellent” rating on platforms like Trustpilot, with a high percentage of positive reviews.
Price: Disruptive Value for Money
Hyperoptic has adopted a competitive pricing strategy to disrupt the market and attract customers away from established providers. By offering full fibre speeds at prices often comparable to or cheaper than rivals’ slower, part-fibre packages, it positions itself as a provider of excellent value.
- Affordable High Speeds: Its mid-range and high-speed packages, such as the 150Mbps and 500Mbps deals, are frequently cited as being brilliant value for the speed and symmetrical performance delivered.
- Broadband-Only Options: A key financial benefit is the option for broadband-only deals, allowing customers to avoid paying for an unnecessary landline rental if they primarily use mobile phones for calls.
- Social Tariffs: Demonstrating a commitment to digital inclusion, the provider offers Fair Fibre social tariffs at discounted rates for eligible customers receiving government benefits.
- Pricing Shift: It’s important to note a shift in pricing strategy: for new customers on fixed-term contracts, Hyperoptic has recently introduced a policy of annual mid-contract price rises (typically a fixed monetary increase each April). This moves away from its previous position of guaranteeing no in-contract price hikes, bringing it closer to the practices of its larger competitors.
Size of Network: Targeted Expansion
Hyperoptic’s network expansion, while aggressive, is still significantly smaller than the nationwide coverage of incumbents like Openreach and Virgin Media O2. Its growth has been strategic and targeted.
Current Coverage
- Premises Passed: Hyperoptic’s network has steadily expanded, passing over 1.9 million premises across the UK as of mid-2025.
- Geographic Reach: Its service is available in parts of over 60 UK towns and cities, though its presence is heavily concentrated in high-density urban areas.
Strategic Focus
- Initial MDU Focus: The company’s growth model initially centred on Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB), connecting apartment blocks and large residential complexes efficiently. This allowed it to achieve high ‘take-up’ rates quickly within a confined geographical area.
- Broader Ambitions: With increased investment, Hyperoptic is expanding its network beyond MDUs to include terraced houses, detached properties, and new-build housing developments. This shift is crucial for its goal of increasing its total addressable market.
- Wholesale Expansion: The company is now exploring strategic partnerships and wholesale agreements, including utilising Openreach’s Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) to accelerate its rollout and reach even more premises, signalling a move to an ‘open access’ model for future growth.
Despite missing some of its earlier targets, Hyperoptic has consistently secured funding to support its ambition to become a major full fibre provider, positioning it as a key driver in the UK’s ongoing digital transformation toward gigabit-capable infrastructure.