Country Connect Plans to Reach 20,000 Premises with FTTP Broadband by 2026

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Country Connect, a small but profitable alternative network provider in the UK, has announced ambitious plans to expand its FTTP broadband network to serve 20,000 premises by the end of 2026. The company, which currently passes around 10,000 homes, aims to scale up through wholesale partnerships and organic growth.

July 4, 2025

On July 3, 2025, Mark Tomlinson, CEO of Country Connect, revealed their strategic growth plan during an interview. The provider, which has grown organically through reinvested profits, is targeting to double its footprint to 20,000 premises within the next year and a half.

Initially starting in Welsh villages such as Ponthir and Caerleon, and later expanding into other areas including Usk, Tidenham, and the Welsh Valleys, Country Connect emphasizes a sustainable and cost-effective build process. With a team of just nine employees and two contractors, their average build cost is reported to be approximately £180 per premises, leveraging existing infrastructure when possible.

The company’s business model relies on reinvested profits, which means they are already profitable and avoid the typical funding challenges faced by larger providers. This organic approach, while limiting their scale, allows them to operate without external shareholder pressures and debt.

Pricing for consumers ranges from £30 for 300 Mbps symmetric broadband with free installation, to £40 for the top-tier 900 Mbps service. They also offer a social tariff at £15 per month for low-income households. Despite not being the cheapest option available, Mark believes their pricing strategy aligns with a focus on sustainable growth rather than racing to the bottom.

Looking ahead, Country Connect plans to open their network to wholesale access, partnering with other ISPs such as Zen Internet and The Fibre Cafe. They also aim to connect more areas across the UK using existing FTTP infrastructure, which could include leveraging other providers’ networks. The timing of these wholesale offerings remains under development.

Interestingly, despite facing fibre overbuilds by competitors like Virgin Media’s nexfibre, their customer take-up has increased, partly due to the frustration caused by the overbuild process. Mark also commented on the challenges of working with government programmes like BDUK, indicating a preference for focusing on their own strategic initiatives. He jokingly mentioned that if a larger player like CityFibre offered to buy them for £10 million, he might consider the deal.

For the full details, read the complete interview at ISPreview.