Earlier this month, we celebrated something truly special: Altnets’ 5th birthday. We marked the milestone by getting together at our Brighton Marina headquarters with our colleagues, partners, families, and friends for an evening that perfectly embodied who we are: driven, ambitious, and constantly going forward as a team.
During the festivities, Olly, our MD, talked about the philosophy that has guided us since the beginning, a business that never stops striving for improvement, never rests, and most importantly, never rusts. Every action we take continues to be governed by this principle, which has its roots in the early vision of our founders, Paul Britnell and Sam Bangle.
As we considered how far we’ve come, we came to the conclusion that the Altnets story can be summed up in five key accomplishments.
1. From a Bold Idea to a Built-to-Last Business
Altnets launched in 2020, with no permanent office, safety net or major funding. However, we did have a strong belief that the telecom sector should have a supplier who puts relationships, quality, and dependability first. It was this belief that got us through our early stages and continues to drive our growth today. Because we stayed loyal to that ambition, we transformed from a small start-up into a trusted partner throughout the UK. Celebrating five years acts as a reminder of how far determination and dedication can carry you.
2. Two Founders Who Built a People-First Vision
Paul and Sam didn’t set out to build the biggest company in the industry; they set out to build the best. Their goal has always been to work alongside networks, teams, engineers, and operators with integrity, dependability, and respect. The culture they created continues to be the heartbeat of Altnets. Their dedication to doing things the right way, even if it meant taking risks, is the reason for every accomplishment we’ve made. That same ambition is still driving us forward five years later.
3. Three Brand Identities, One Evolving Story
Over the last five years, Altnets has undergone two rebrands, giving us three distinct brand identities, each reflecting who we were at the time. The ambitious aim of a startup getting off the ground was encapsulated in our initial identity. The second demonstrated our development and growing capacity as we created a name for ourselves. The Altnets brand today reflects our maturity and our willingness to lead in new industries and international markets. Every evolution demonstrates how a business learns, develops, and adapts while never losing sight of its mission.
4. Three Offices Powering a National Presence
With just three staff members and an unofficial office in late 2020, Altnets relocated to the Plus X Innovation Hub in 2021, providing the team with a professional setting in which to grow. Today, our Brighton Marina headquarters, which supports our employees and cultivates collaboration, is at the heart of Altnets. Although Brighton is our home, our ambitions extend well beyond the city as we explore new industries, global markets, and the data centre industry, all fuelled by the work environment and culture we’ve established here.
5. Five Years of Milestones
Altnets has expanded from a modest start-up to a reputable, market-leading company in just five years. We gained the confidence to grow early on after securing our first significant fibre cable supply contract with a client who continues to work with us today. Since then, we’ve developed solid connections with top manufacturers and network providers across the globe, expanded our expertise into associated industries, and refined our services to match the demands of the future of connectivity. As a testament to the people-first culture that has fuelled every accomplishment, we were honoured to be named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work nationwide in our fourth year. Not only is reaching this fifth year an important milestone, but it also serves as a reminder that the best of Altnets is still ahead.
A Final Thank You
To our customers: thank you for having faith in what we’re creating and for entrusting us with your goals, challenges, and projects.
To our partners: thank you for helping us push boundaries, innovate, and grow.
Thank you to our staff for your enthusiasm, integrity, and constant commitment. You are the core of Altnets and the reason these past five years have been so remarkable.
And to everyone who joined us at Brighton Marina to celebrate: your support means more than you know.
After five years, we are stronger, wiser, and more driven than before. If the first five years are any indication, the best is still to come. The next chapter is already underway. Here’s to the next five years of progress, partnerships, and pushing our industry forward.
If you’re ready to be part of the next chapter, get in touch with our team today: [email protected]