The UK broadband market has undergone dramatic consolidation since the early days of dial-up. Dozens of independent providers have been absorbed into a handful of major groups. This archive documents their history, closure dates, and who ultimately inherited their customers.
Where did they end up?
Most defunct UK broadband brands did not simply vanish — their customers were transferred to a larger group. Some arrived indirectly, through a chain of earlier owners.
- Shell Energy Broadband2019–2024
- Post Office Broadband2007–2021indirect
- First Utility Broadband2016–2019indirect
- AOL Broadband1996–2012
- Carphone Warehouse Broadband2006–2010
- Pipex1990–2010
- Tiscali2000–2009
- Orange Broadband2006–2012
- Wanadoo UK2004–2006indirect
- Freeserve1998–2004indirect
- Easynet1994–2015
- Be Broadband2005–2014
- O2 Home Broadband2007–2014
- SSE Broadband2021
- John Lewis Broadband2014–2021
- Blueyonder (Telewest)2000–2007
- Demon Internet1992–2019
Provider archive
Select a provider to read its full history.
Shell Energy Broadband
2019–2024 · Acquired by TalkTalk
John Lewis Broadband
2014–2021
Post Office Broadband
2007–2021 · Acquired by Shell Energy
SSE Broadband
SSE Broadband no longer takes customers. OVO Energy bought SSE's retail arm in 2020 and the broadband brand was retired the following year.
2021 · Acquired by OVO Energy
Demon Internet
1992–2019 · Acquired by Thus / Cable & Wireless
First Utility Broadband
2016–2019 · Acquired by Shell
Easynet
1994–2015 · Acquired by BSkyB
Be Broadband
2005–2014 · Acquired by O2 (Telefonica)
O2 Home Broadband
2007–2014 · Acquired by Sky
AOL Broadband
1996–2012 · Acquired by Carphone Warehouse
Orange Broadband
2006–2012 · Acquired by EE
Carphone Warehouse Broadband
2006–2010
Pipex
1990–2010 · Acquired by Tiscali
Tiscali
2000–2009 · Acquired by TalkTalk
Blueyonder (Telewest)
2000–2007 · Acquired by NTL:Telewest
Wanadoo UK
2004–2006 · Acquired by Orange (France Telecom)
Freeserve
1998–2004 · Acquired by Wanadoo (France Telecom)