In reply to a post by candlerb:

Why not take the positive view: if an Altnet comes along then enjoy the ride. The price will be cheap if they're trying to hoover up customers rapidly, and should they fail then someone else will take it over - or at very worst you'll be forced back to FTTC. You can't lose.
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And also, anyone who sweeps up the assets of a failed company is going to want to keep the customer base as well, which is probably worth more.

I agree - many altnets provide a technically competent service. Even if the companies are bought and sold, someone will likely always have an interest in using the installed plant to sell a service.

The main danger is consolidation in the market leading to a lack of choice. Openreach are likely to be prevented from buying off their competition, but the likes of VM could probably make a business case for buying out Community Fibre, Hyperoptic etc. with a view to preserving market share where overbuild has occurred.

In reply to a post by candlerb:

I'd say from personal experience that the current problems with electricity and gas supplier failures are being dealt with pretty well.

Not quite the same - in the energy market there's a govt safety net administered by Ofgem which picks up the pieces for you, finds you another supplier, your credit is protected etc. The lights stay on, the gas keeps flowing. Agree there should be something in telecomms these days too, but there isn't.

But thanks everyone for the gung-ho comments. FTTP from whatever source is still vapourware here, and the marketing blitz hasn't started yet so it can't be imminent. I'll have to see what sort of introductory deals are on offer when the time comes.