Wholesale FTTP Explained: From Openreach to Altnets Without the Headache

Full fibre broadband is no longer the future. It is the expectation. For businesses across the UK, FTTP has become the default conversation for performance, reliability and long-term scalability. For MSPs, IT firms and telecom resellers though, FTTP can feel far less straightforward.

Multiple networks. Inconsistent availability. Conflicting pricing and customers asking a simple question that rarely has a simple answer: “Can you get fibre at my site, and how much will it cost?”

This guide breaks down wholesale FTTP properly. What it is, how Openreach and altnets really differ, and how partners can sell full fibre nationwide without drowning in carrier complexity.

What FTTP actually means in wholesale terms

FTTP stands for Fibre to the Premises. The fibre runs all the way from the exchange into the building, not just to a street cabinet.

From a business connectivity perspective, this delivers:

• Consistent high speeds
• Symmetrical or near-symmetrical performance
• Lower fault rates than copper based services
• A future-proof access method

But from a wholesale perspective, FTTP is not one network. It is dozens. This is where most reseller frustration begins.

Openreach FTTP vs altnets: what partners really need to know

Openreach FTTP

Openreach remains the largest fibre network in the UK and is often the default option where available.

Strengths:
• National reach
• Familiar ordering processes
• Predictable install models

Limitations:
• Availability still varies heavily by postcode
• Excess construction charges can apply
• Commercial flexibility is limited

Openreach works well, and remains important, but they are no longer the only route to full fibre coverage.

Altnets and why they matter

Altnets are alternative fibre network operators building their own infrastructure alongside or instead of Openreach. Across the UK, altnets now cover millions of premises, often delivering:

• Faster availability in new build areas
• Lower build costs in some regions
• Competitive wholesale pricing
• Strong performance for business users

The challenge is not quality. The challenge is fragmentation.

Each altnet has:
• Different coverage
• Different pricing models
• Different install rules
• Different lead times

Selling altnet FTTP without the right platform can quickly become unmanageable.

Why postcode availability is the biggest FTTP pain point

One of the most common reseller problems is simple on the surface but painful in practice. A customer provides a postcode. You check availability. The answer is unclear.

That is because:
• Postcodes can span multiple network footprints
• One building may be live while the next is not
• Openreach and altnets often overlap inconsistently

Without real-time availability checks across multiple carriers, partners are forced into manual lookups, emails, and guesswork. That slows down sales and kills confidence.

Wholesale FTTP should not require carrier expertise

This is the key shift happening in the market. The most successful telecom and IT resellers are no longer trying to understand every network. Instead, they work with a wholesale provider that abstracts the complexity away.

In a modern wholesale FTTP model:

• Availability is checked automatically
• Pricing is standardised at wholesale level
• ECCs are surfaced early, not as surprises
• Provisioning is managed centrally
• The partner focuses on the customer relationship

This is the difference between reselling fibre and fighting fibre. The right wholesale partner removes this complexity entirely by managing networks, availability, and provisioning on your behalf.

How Bright Edge simplifies wholesale FTTP for partners

Bright Edge was built around a simple principle. Partners should sell connectivity, not manage carriers.

Our wholesale FTTP model provides:

• Aggregated access to Openreach and multiple altnets
• Real-time postcode level availability
• Automated excess construction charge visibility
• Defined wholesale pricing set by Bright Edge
• Partners free to apply their own margin
• Centralised provisioning and escalation

You sell under your own brand. We handle the infrastructure complexity behind the scenes.

Why this matters commercially for MSPs and resellers

FTTP is not just a connectivity product. It is an entry point. Once fibre is in place, it naturally leads to:

• VoIP migrations
• Backup connectivity
• Security services
• Multi-site networking

Partners who can confidently lead with FTTP position themselves as long-term infrastructure advisors, not just IT support. Wholesale FTTP done properly unlocks recurring revenue without adding operational burden.

The bottom line

FTTP is simple for the customer. It should be simple for the reseller too. The future of wholesale connectivity is not about knowing every network. It is about having a platform that does.

If you are an MSP, IT firm or telecom reseller looking to offer nationwide FTTP without carrier contracts, provisioning headaches or pricing uncertainty, this is exactly what Bright Edge was built for.

Are you ready to add FTTP to your wholesale portfolio?

If you are looking for a wholesale platform that removes complexity, protects your customer relationships and supports long-term growth, Bright Edge provides a simple and trusted foundation for reselling connectivity and voice.

Deliver full fibre connectivity to your business customers without the operational complexity of managing multiple suppliers. Bright Edge provides the wholesale platform, support and infrastructure to help partners sell FTTP with confidence.