A Digital Promise Still Out of Reach Reliable, high-speed internet is no longer a luxury, it’s essential infrastructure. Yet in rural counties like Shropshire, the rollout of full fibre broadband continues to lag behind expectations, sparking frustration among both residents and their elected representatives.On this pageA Digital Promise… Read More
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Exascale a Gigabit Full Fibre Telecommunications operator and ISP Headquartered in Telford, Shropshire, has today said they’re expanding their network to the south of Telford & Wrekin. The company went on to say they aim to connect both urban and rural homes and businsses as part of this expansion. Read More
Ofcom Blocks Openreach’s New-to-Network FTTP Offer: Why Fair Competition Matters for Exascale
The UK’s full fibre market needs a fair opportunity for independent networks to compete. For operators such as Exascale, that means being able to win customers through the quality of their infrastructure, service and pricing.
Ofcom’s latest decision is a welcome step towards protecting that opportunity.
What has Ofcom rejected?
On 28 September 2026, Ofcom directed Openreach to withdraw its Incremental New to Openreach Customer Offer. This was a proposed wholesale FTTP pricing offer, rather than a discount customers could buy directly from Openreach.
Ofcom did not intervene in the other notified offers. Its decision therefore targets a specific pricing arrangement, rather than prohibiting FTTP price reductions generally.
Why did the offer raise concerns?
In its published statement, Ofcom found that the discounted prices could leave a reasonably efficient competing operator unable to recover its costs.
The offer targeted additional connections from outside Openreach’s network, including customers using alternative networks. Ofcom considered Openreach’s significant market power central to its ability to target these customers with low prices while leaving other customers’ prices unchanged.
The regulator’s concern was the potential damage to sustainable network competition and, ultimately, consumers. It also concluded that the offer’s conditions, considered separately from the price level, did not themselves create a potential barrier to using another network.
How this helps operators such as Exascale
Our view is that the decision helps preserve the opportunity to compete on a sustainable basis. It offers no guarantee of commercial success for Exascale or any other operator.
Building and operating a network involves ongoing commitments: maintaining equipment, supporting connections and planning capacity. The commercial case depends on customers choosing that network and continuing to use it. A fair market should give operators the opportunity to earn those customers through a compelling service.
For Exascale, the importance of this principle extends beyond a single wholesale offer. We deliver services over our own infrastructure and partner networks, as described on our website. A competitive network market supports that choice and gives us more ways to serve households and businesses.
We believe the right measure of competition is whether customers continue to have credible alternatives, alongside attractive prices today. Independent operators must still demonstrate value, deliver reliable service and respond to customers’ needs.
A stronger foundation for customer choice
A level playing field gives providers room to compete through better service, investment and innovation. Customers should be able to compare meaningful alternatives and choose the connection that works for them.
That is why we see Ofcom’s intervention as a positive development for the full fibre market. Protecting the opportunity for efficient networks to compete helps keep that choice alive.
To explore connectivity for your home or business, speak to Exascale.
