Virgin Media and OFNL

Unlike the ISPs that resell on the OFNL network, Virgin Media O2 operates its own separate fibre within OFNL developments. Through a dual lay partnership with GTC (the infrastructure arm of BUUK, which also operates OFNL), Virgin Media runs its own optical fibre cables through the same ducts and chambers that carry the OFNL network — giving residents on some OFNL developments a genuinely independent second network to choose from.

Background: How OFNL Developments Normally Work

When a housebuilder constructs a new development, they typically contract with a single network operator to install fibre infrastructure. On OFNL developments, GTC installs ducts and fibre during construction, and OFNL then operates an open-access wholesale network over that fibre. Multiple ISPs can resell broadband over this single network, but the underlying physical infrastructure is shared.

This means that while you have a choice of provider, all providers ultimately use the same OFNL network. If there’s a network fault, it affects everyone. Virgin Media’s dual lay arrangement changes this by adding a second, independent fibre network within the same ducts.

The Partnership: November 2021

In November 2021, GTC, Power On (GTC’s energy brand), and Virgin Media O2 announced a partnership to offer housebuilders a dual lay fibre network. Under this arrangement, Virgin Media’s own fibre cables are installed alongside GTC’s existing fibre within the same duct and chamber infrastructure — no additional groundwork or trenching is required.

From the housebuilder’s perspective, this is attractive: a single dig provides two independent fibre networks, giving homebuyers more choice without additional construction cost or disruption. From the homeowner’s perspective, it means being able to choose between OFNL providers and Virgin Media’s full product range, including broadband, TV, and phone services.

Initially Limited to New Contracts

The initial announcement only applied to new contracts signed with GTC from November 2021 onwards, subject to Virgin Media availability in the area. Since OFNL’s network at the time already covered over 50,000 premises — almost all built before November 2021 — the immediate impact was limited.

This was a significant limitation. Most OFNL residents were on older developments that pre-dated the partnership and therefore had no access to Virgin Media as an alternative.

Expansion to Older OFNL Sites: 2022

In September 2022, Virgin Media O2 confirmed that the partnership was being extended to cover some of OFNL’s existing (older) sites. Residents on older OFNL developments began receiving flyers promoting the future arrival of Virgin Media services.

However, Virgin Media clarified that they would not necessarily build out to all existing OFNL sites. The decision to expand to a given site depends on commercial viability and Virgin Media’s existing network presence in the area. Some older OFNL developments have since gained Virgin Media availability, while others have not.

Checking Availability

Not all OFNL developments have Virgin Media available — it depends on when the site was contracted and whether Virgin Media has chosen to extend to it. To find out whether your development has Virgin Media as an option, you can check your address on everyfibre, which shows which networks are available at your property.

The Bigger Picture: VMO2’s Fibre Strategy

The OFNL partnership is one part of Virgin Media O2’s broader push to expand its fibre footprint across the UK. VMO2 is in the process of upgrading its entire cable network to full fibre (FTTP) by 2028, and has also been acquiring smaller alternative network operators (altnets) to extend its reach.

For OFNL residents, this strategy means Virgin Media is likely to continue expanding its presence on OFNL developments where it makes commercial sense. The 2025 acquisition of Fibrenest by BUUK has also raised the possibility that the dual lay arrangement could eventually extend to former Fibrenest sites, though this has not been confirmed.