Ofnl Reviews 535

Utterly rubbish service. OFNL operates as a literal monopoly on new-build estates, and they clearly know it because they treat customers with zero urgency. They are currently hiding behind vague "maintenance" excuses while refusing to provide my ISP (MTH) with any actual technical updates or ETRs (Estimated Time of Repair).
​Because of their incompetence, I’m being forced to spend more on mobile data than my actual monthly broadband bill just to stay connected. They are overpriced, their support infrastructure is a joke, and their business practices are scummy. If I had the choice of a legacy Openreach line, I’d switch in a heartbeat. Avoid any property that is locked into this "OFNL-only" trap if you value your sanity and your wallet.

Have been without wifi and internet since Friday, Paul fnl engineer was assigned. He kept me informed throughout the day and on arrival quickly found the problem. Once working Paul supported me with the router and ensured all was working before leaving. He also expalined why it was not working and the basics to look for. Can not speak highly enough of Paul's customer service and professionalism, thanks so much for your help.

Mark Wright from OFNL attended my house today to fix problems I was suffering with my OFNL connections especially badly affecting my home phone line service which I had reported to my provider seethelight. He was very helpful, professional & knowledgeable. After testing he found the problem causing this. He changed the necessary parts & fixed the problem with my connections. He stayed on to thoroughly test everything was working properly. I would highly recommend Mark to fix any problems you are experiencing with your OFNL service.

After an extensive verification process, I found the WhatsApp chat very helpful when I developed a problem with my Internet. I was advised on some trouble shooting and when this didnt work, an engineer was sent to my home the next day. I was kept informed by message along the way and given a half hour time slot when to expect the engineer. He even updated me when he had traffic issues.
After attending, my normal service was resumed. I can honestly say that I am getting value for money. My service provider who I called was see the light and the engineer was Mark. W, I would definitely recommend.

Very impressive service.

My Internet went down, called on the Monday afternoon by the Tuesday afternoon was back up and running! (OFNL) did apologise that there was no one available that day…understandably! Mark was amazing explained what had happened and sorted it out within half an hour! I had a few internet questions and he explained and told me all the answers I needed to know and what to do! Life saver thank you Mark!

Mark messaged in morning to let me know when he would be arriving and arrived on time, very polite and explained all thats was going on.

There’s a connection problem on the activation day. Gemma from Merula was responsive and helpful to arrange an engineer to come on the next day. Mark, the engineer, was helpful and professional, and answered my questions in layman’s terms. Thanks a lot

Paul fixed our TV signal issue quickly and efficiently. His approach was extremely professional and he provided a clear description of the problem and how he corrected the fault.

Fraudulent manopoly all providers set the same price,

Network is always down 4 times last year alone

Crap excuse of a company another open reach scam

I couldn't be happy with the response by OFNL to solve an issue with our internet connection! We lost connectivity around 4PM yesterday and by noon today an engineer had already been round to replace the fibre cable that had been chewed through by the local wildlife.

Our engineer Mark was friendly, swift and thorough in replacing the cable and made sure that if the same were to happen again that it would be an even quicker fix. Very proactive and helpful.

Arrived on time, great communication, polite and professional and got my Internet working as it should! Thank you Mark Wright!

Mark W worked efficiently, work was to a high standard and left the place clean. He was polite and explained everything that he was doing.

Mark W managed to fit us in earlier and was very efficient. He gave good instructions and was very supportive.
Thank you Mark.

Ver well explained. Am happy with the outcome

OFNL effectively creates a monopoly in many new-build developments by partnering exclusively with developers, leaving residents with no access to Openreach or competing infrastructures. While they advertise 'choice' of ISPs, all providers operate on the same OFNL network, resulting in similar high prices and limitations.
Key problems:

Business-grade packages (including static IP with better terms) are not available on residential addresses – providers refuse or require a registered company, even for legitimate home/office use.
Even when static IP is offered (often at extra cost £3–8/month on residential plans), there are still traffic management policies, DPI, or hidden limits that prevent truly unrestricted, unlimited usage – static IP does not guarantee no throttling or restrictions for heavy inbound/outbound traffic or persistent connections.
Prices are significantly higher than elsewhere: many ISPs using OFNL infrastructure charge 1.5–2x more for comparable or slower speeds compared to providers on other networks (e.g. £45/month for 360/72 Mbps is common, while similar performance costs £30–35/month on Openreach-based services).
The 14-day cooling-off period varies between ISPs using OFNL infrastructure – some count from contract sign-up, others from service activation – leading to confusion and potential unfairness, which is not fully aligned with clear consumer rights expectations under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.

This setup leaves customers with limited real options, inflated costs, restrictive policies and inconsistent terms. Potential buyers of new-build properties should be aware of these restrictions before committing.

Polite and professional engineer. Mark w clearly explained what the problem was and fixed it efficiently.

Internet has been out for freaking 6 hours already on a busy Monday with no sign of recovery at all, for the entire SE10, kidding me? Freaking Vietnam in 1996 had better internet! Overpriced with incompetent employees

This review concerns both Rocket Fibre and the structural limitation of properties connected exclusively to the Open Fibre Networks Limited (OFNL) network.

If you are considering buying or renting a property where broadband infrastructure is restricted to OFNL, think very carefully before committing.

In theory, you may see multiple broadband suppliers listed on the network. In practice, if you encounter a dispute with your active provider, your ability to switch immediately can become extremely limited.

If your current supplier suspends service, applies a cease date, or delays migration within the OFNL system, you may find yourself:
• Without working broadband
• Still under contract
• Unable to activate a new provider immediately
• With no alternative physical network available

In my case, service was suspended while billing continued, and migration to a new supplier could not be completed immediately due to system restrictions.

When contacting OFNL, you are informed that retail provider disputes are not their responsibility. However, as a consumer, you have no infrastructure alternative — only providers operating on the same network.

This creates a structural dependency risk.

If you invest significant money in a property that only has OFNL broadband infrastructure, understand that you are locking yourself into a closed ecosystem. Your switching freedom is not the same as in areas served by Openreach or other competing networks.

Before purchasing or renting a property with OFNL-only broadband, consider:
• What happens if a dispute arises?
• How quickly can you realistically switch?
• What leverage do you have if service is suspended?

Broadband today is essential infrastructure, not a luxury.

Make sure you fully understand the network limitations before committing to a property where OFNL is the only option.

AVOID otherwise suspended services it’s not their faulty!

Mark Wright was fantastic! He is a true professional, friendly, and attentive. The installation was smooth and easy, and it was a pleasure to meet him. Highly recommended!