Whatever happened to these UK broadband providers?

Dan Howdle • January 30th, 2025

Over the last couple of decades, dozens of broadband providers have vanished from the UK market, often by merging into larger brands or passing their customers along to other companies. In many cases, the exits came about due to fierce competition, evolving technology, and an ever-changing environment driven by Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator.

But each time a provider disappears, it can be a confusing experience if you weren't paying attention, especially if it happens quickly or with little fanfare or explanation. In this guide we’ll break down what happened to these now-defunct broadband brands (say that ten times in a row quickly), why they ceased trading or taking on new customers, and what it meant for existing customers at the time.

National providers

There are some well-known/household names among the fallen when it comes to national broadband providers. Many are dead and gone, some are still lingering as they pass on their customers to a new provider, and one or two found themselves in even more unusual circumstances. Here, we'll briefly tell the story of each. First though, here's an overview.

Closed national broadband providers (2005 to 2025)

Wanadoo – 2004 to 2006

Wanadoo began in 2004 (itself rebranded from Freeserve) and only lasted two years up until 2006 when the whole thing was again rebranded to Orange. At the time, Wanadoo had around two million broadband customers, so it was pretty big for a time when only around 40-45% of households. Rather than closing outright, Wanadoo effectively vanished the moment Orange took over, and customers were simply moved onto Orange Broadband without having to lift a finger.

From there, the service eventually evolved into what we now know as EE Broadband (which then bought Orange in 2010), and which itself later became part of BT, albeit maintaining the EE brand. So if you ever wondered what happened to your old Wanadoo account, chances are you were quietly rolled into the next brand and the next without missing a beat.

Bulldog – 2003 to 2009

If you remember Bulldog, you might recall them as one of the first to make a big deal out of faster speeds than were generally the case mong other providers. Founded around 2003, it gained a loyal following by focusing on urban areas and offering what felt like lightning-fast ADSL when most people were stuck with dial-up connections. For a while, Bulldog’s buzz was undeniable, especially among tech enthusiasts.

Eventually though, Bulldog was scooped up by Pipex, and by 2009 the brand had vanished entirely and any remaining Bulldog customers were transferred over to new providers (often without having to do a thing). If you were on Bulldog at the time, you just woke up one day with a different logo on your bill.

Pipex – 1991 to 2009

Pipex started out way back in 1991 as a pioneer of dial-up, so if you were online in the early days there’s a good chance you came across them. They helped introduce many Brits to the wonders of email, slow-loading web pages and the infamous sequence of beeps and buzzes that heralded connecting to a burgeoning internet. But when broadband finally hit the scene, Pipex jumped in and expanded rapidly. They even snapped up other providers like Bulldog (see previous) along the way.

By 2009 though, Pipex had been carved up and sold off in parts, with Tiscali acquiring its UK residential customers before later being folded into TalkTalk. If you were a Pipex customer in those later years, you probably got swept under a new banner without too much fuss. Pipex particularly to this day brings with it a lot of dial-up nostalgia whenever the name is mentioned (among those of us of a certain age, of course).

Tiscali – 1998 to 2009

Tiscali sprang onto the UK scene in the late 1990s – an Italian-owned ISP eager to shake things up. Over time, they bought up smaller rivals, building a solid user base that spanned dial-up and broadband in its later years. For a while, Tiscali felt like it was everywhere, especially if you were hunting for a budget-friendly deal in the mid-2000s.

But in 2009, Tiscali’s UK business was itself bought by TalkTalk, marking the end of Tiscali as a standalone name, though the provider still operates to this day in its native Italy. Tiscali subscribers were switched to TalkTalk packages, so if you were with Tiscali back then, you might just have noticed a different logo on your monthly bill without much fanfare.

Orange Broadband – 2006 to 2012

Orange Broadband popped up in 2006 when the well-known mobile network took over Wanadoo, aiming to combine phone and internet services under one bright, orange (or should that be Orange?) banner. It kept many of Wanadoo’s existing customers and continued to sign up new ones, touting the convenience of having your broadband and mobile packages under one Orange umbrella.

However, by 2012, Orange had merged with T-Mobile to create EE, which ended up replacing Orange Broadband completely. If you were an Orange Broadband customer then, you likely got migrated to EE’s deals without any hassle. Although Orange the mobile brand stuck around for a bit longer, Orange Broadband specifically faded out as the EE brand took center stage.

AOL Broadband (UK) – 2006 to 2013

AOL’s (Americal Online's) dial-up service was legendary in the 1990s, but by 2006 its UK broadband arm was sold to TalkTalk. Interestingly, AOL Broadband carried on under its own name for several years after that sale, so if you signed up with them during that time, you might not have realised you were effectively a TalkTalk customer.

By 2013, AOL Broadband had stopped accepting new sign-ups, and existing customers were gradually moved over to packages under the TalkTalk name. So if you stuck around long enough, you'd eventually have seen the AOL name disappear from your monthly bill entirely. It marked the end of an era for a brand that once introduced so many people to the delights of a new-fangled internet.

Be Broadband – 2004 to 2014

Launched in 2004, Be Broadband offered speedy ADSL2+ and rock-solid performance. Tech-savvy users enjoyed its fast speeds, good routers and award-winning customer support. That reputation caught the eye of O2, which bought Be Broadband in whole in 2006, yet it remained under the Be name for a few years after that.

Everything changed in 2013, when Sky purchased O2’s broadband business, with Be Broadband included in the deal. By 2014, Be Broadband customers had been fully migrated to Sky Broadband, and the Be name was no more.

O2 Broadband – 2007 to 2014

When O2 launched its home broadband in 2007, it quickly won fans with competitive prices and solid speeds, as well as a good reputation for its customer service. It was a strong contender for a while, and especially tempting if you were already using O2 for your mobile, since they often threw in discounts for signing up to both.

In 2013, Sky bought O2’s entire broadband and home phone division, absorbing all those customers. By 2014, O2 Broadband effectively disappeared as people were switched onto Sky Broadband packages. It was a rapid transition, so if you were with O2 at the time, you likely just carried on under the Sky banner.

Tesco Broadband – 2012 to 2015

Although Tesco Broadband officially started earlier in different forms, it really took shape around 2012, positioning itself as a good option for anyone wanting its simple, cheap, supermarket-branded service. It aimed to be straightforward and budget-friendly, as expected from any Tesco-branded service, and as such found a steady following among bargain-hunters.

However, in 2015 Tesco sold its broadband customers to TalkTalk. If you were on Tesco Broadband back then, you probably noticed a change on your bill and little else. After the handover, the Tesco name left the broadband arena forever, focusing on its core supermarket business instead. Tesco Mobile is still around though, and still going strong to this day.

Fuel Broadband (Primus Saver) – 2010 to 2017

Fuel Broadband began life as Primus Saver around 2010, marketing itself as a cut-price broadband and phone service. If you wanted cheap and cheerful broadband, Fuel was fairly uniquey during a time when the market had plenty of mid-range and premium offerings. Fuel picked up a decent following among cost-conscious customers looking for basic internet without all the bells and whistles.

By 2017 though, the brand came to an end, with its customer base moving over to Post Office Broadband, which itself folded in 2021 (see further down). If you were part of that migration, odds are you just received a welcome note telling you you’d been switched over to Post Office Broadband.

Eclipse Internet (Residential) – 2000 to 2018

Eclipse Internet started around 2000, offering both business and home broadband nationwide. It was owned by KCOM, which is known primarily for serving the Hull area, but Eclipse aimed for a wider UK footprint. If you were a home user, you might have liked their tech-savvy approach and decent customer support.

Eventually, KCOM shifted Eclipse’s focus more toward business customers, leaving its residential arm to wind down. By 2018, Eclipse Internet no longer served regular households, and existing customers simply encouraged to switch to another provider.

Relish – 2014 to 2018

Relish launched in 2014, providing fixed-wireless broadband in central London. Fixed wireless is broadband that operates via a mobile network, and in 2014 we were barely doing 3G particularly well, so this was quite ahead of its time. Most people still relied on copper phone lines of course, but if you lived in the right postcode you could skip the landline entirely and hop onto their wireless connection. That all depended on how well served you were by fixed line broadband since Relish's speeds at that time were hardly anything to write home about.

In 2017, UK Broadband (Relish’s parent) was bought by Three, and by 2018 the Relish name was phased out in favour of Three Broadband. If you were a Relish customer, you might have noticed your router was still the same, but your bills and branding changed. The service lives on under Three Broadband to this day, now offering 5G home broadband connections with speeds at around 150Mbps.

First Utility Broadband – 2016 to 2019

First Utility was best known as an energy supplier, but it branched into broadband around 2016 to bundle internet with gas and electricity. The idea was completely new: Give customers a one-stop shop for home utilities, potentially saving a bit of money and some hassle along the way. It found a niche! For a time.

However, in 2018 Shell acquired First Utility, and by 2019, its broadband service had fully rebranded as Shell Energy Broadband. If you were on First Utility’s broadband, you might remember getting an email about the switch, then carrying on as usual under a new name. That was the end of First Utility, with Shell Energy Broadband itself now also handing off its customers and shutting down.

Post Office Broadband – 2007 to 2021

Though the Post Office is best known for sending letters and parcels, it jumped into broadband around 2007 with a service aimed at anyone wanting a simple, no-frills package, and marketing primarily to the older generation. If you wanted something straightforward from a trusted brand, Post Office Broadband had a certain appeal.

Over time though, the Post Office decided to focus more on its core business. And in 2021 it sold its broadband customers to Shell Energy Broadband. If you were on Post Office Broadband then, you got moved to Shell’s network automatically. Shell Energy Broadband is also on this list (further down) as it is itself in the process fo shuttering.

John Lewis Broadband – 2012 to 2022

John Lewis Broadband arrived around 2012, partnering with Plusnet (a BT-owned brand) to offer a premium yet straightforward experience. It appealed to those who trusted the John Lewis name for quality and service, and that's how it marketed itself – sort of 'posh broadband' if you will. You could even sign up in-store.

But by early 2022, John Lewis Broadband stopped taking new customers, preferring to wind down its offering. Existing users stayed on their existing packages, but John Lewis effectively stepped away from broadband. If you’re still with them now, you’re probably on a rolling contract via Plusnet, but new sign-ups are no more.

SSE Broadband – 2008 to 2023

SSE is mostly known for gas and electricity and still operates as an energy business to this day, yet it offered home broadband from around 2008 under the name Scottish Hydro Broadband in Scotland, or Southern Electric Broadband in England, becoming SSE Broadband in the mid-2010s. They tried to position themselves as a one-stop utility provider like First Utility and later Shell Energy Broadband, bundling energy and internet deals together to keep things nice and simple for households.

By 2023, SSE decided to exit the broadband scene and sold off its residential customers to TalkTalk. If you were with SSE Broadband, you likely got a letter or email telling you the switch was coming. After that, SSE Broadband vanished, focusing on its energy business instead, which is maintained to this day.

Shell Energy Broadband – 2019 to Present

When Shell took over First Utility in 2018, it then rebranded to Shell Energy Broadband in 2019, bringing what is a major global brand (albeit with a sketchy environmental reputation) into the UK market. If you joined Shell Energy Broadband, it was often because of competitive pricing and the convenience of linking it to Shell’s energy deals.

Shell Energy Broadband customers have now all been migrated to TalkTalk, though many will still have Shell Energy Broadband routers.

Origin Broadband – 2011 to Present

Origin began life in 2011, mainly serving South Yorkshire’s 'Digital Region' before branching out across the UK. It made a name for itself with decent customer service and some affordable Standard Fibre deals.

In 2021, Origin was acquired by TalkTalk, but the Origin brand hasn’t disappeared. If you’re an Origin customer, you’re still on Origin’s packages, at least in name, and can expect the same support you’ve been getting so far, albeit from TalkTalk. You cannot get a new deal under the Origin Broadband name however.

Notable altnets

While the national providers tend to be far more widely known, there have also been plenty of alternative networks (altnets) that either brought faster connections to specific regions or tried out new technologies before Standard Fibre and Full Fibre went fully mainstream. Some of these altnets specialised in rural areas or city centres, only to be closed when funding ran out. Others found themselves acquired or rebranded as part of a bigger company’s expansion plans. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the more notable cases and see what became of them.

Closed notable altnets (2005 to 2025)

Digital Region – 2010 to 2014

Digital Region was a local-government-backed project aiming to bring Standard Fibre broadband to South Yorkshire at a time when much of the UK still struggled with basic ADSL. Launched in 2010, it used public and private funding to build a Standard Fibre network that smaller providers could tap into. If you lived in Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, or Doncaster, this might have been your first taste of so-called 'Superfast'.

Despite an innovative start, the scheme couldn’t sustain itself financially. By 2014, Digital Region had closed, and its assets sold off. Customers were handed off to whichever ISP they’d signed up with (for example, Origin Broadband began on Digital Region and then shifted elsewhere).

Fibrecity (Gigler) – 2010 to 2015

Fibrecity, also branded as 'Gigler' for its consumer service, appeared around 2010 with a bold plan to bring Full Fibre to Bournemouth at a time when such speeds unheard of. The idea was straightforward: hook up homes to gigabit-capable lines and outdo the competition locally.

However, the rollout hit funding challenges, and by 2015, the provider ceased operating in its original form. CityFibre, keen to expand its footprint, absorbed the remnants, so existing Gigler customers were effectively moved onto a restructured CityFibre network. For local residents, it meant gigabit service didn’t vanish, but the Fibrecity and Gigler branding definitely did.

Rutland Telecom – 2003 to 2014

Rutland Telecom got started in 2003 with a hyper-local approach for Rutland and surrounds, bringing better broadband to villages and smaller towns that the national providers of the time often overlooked. It drew attention for proving that small networks could have a big impact.

Its success eventually caught the eye of Gigaclear, which acquired Rutland Telecom in 2014. Post-acquisition, the brand was folded under the Gigaclear umbrella, and the original Rutland Telecom name stopped being used. Many of its customers hardly noticed a difference beyond new branding, continuing their service under Gigaclear’s growing Full Fibre network.

Metronet UK – 2003 to 2016

Metronet UK, founded in Manchester in 2003, was an early adopter of both wireless and fibre broadband, focusing primarily on business connectivity, but offering residential packages too. Metronet UK carved out a solid niche among companies needing reliable broadband.

In 2016, Metronet merged with M247, a cloud and network provider, effectively rebranding and shifting its focus even more heavily toward business broadband. Existing Metronet customers were ushered under the M247 banner, and that signalled the end of Metronet UK as a standalone altnet.