With our co-founders, Paul Britnell and Sam Bangle, proudly featured on the front cover, Altnets has been selected as the cover story for the July–August 2025 issue of South East Business Magazine.
Our Brighton-based business has evolved remarkably, and the feature highlights how we succeeded in doing so without losing sight of what really matters: people, trust, and long-term relationships. As South East Business puts it:
“This Brighton-based telecoms equipment supplier’s remarkable growth is powered by a refreshing, human-first approach that prioritises transparency, trust and meaningful relationships – both within the business and with clients.”
The article explores our journey from three individuals working in a temporary office to being named one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work, placing in the top 15 of the Elite Business 100, and providing services to more than 100 clients across the country. Here’s a little more about that journey.
Spotting the Gap
In 2020, Altnets was founded by Sam and Paul with no safety net, no large investment, and no permanent office. But importantly, we had experience, an established plan, and a firm commitment.
Paul had been closely following the European fibre broadband rollout in his previous role with overseas suppliers. He noticed that the UK was going to see a similar surge in demand, but at the time, no single UK telecoms supplier was providing a comprehensive, full-service approach. By providing outstanding products, excellent support, and a first-rate standard of service, Altnets set out to fill that gap for internet service providers.
Sam delivered the motivation, pace, and practical startup experience required to get going swiftly. They were prepared, had nothing to lose, and had faith in their ability to succeed.
Key Wins and Lessons Learned
In 2021, Altnets made its first major achievement when it secured a fibre cable supply contract with a client that is still with the company today. We had the confidence to relocate to Plus X Innovation Hub in Brighton, the perfect co-working space for our rapidly expanding team, thanks to this early vote of confidence.
There were particular difficulties when launching during the COVID pandemic. Uncertainty persisted, and global supply chains were disrupted. It was essential that Altnets diversified suppliers, cultivated solid relationships with manufacturers, and remained flexible.
In a highly regulated industry, there were a lot of legal and compliance issues. Instead of taking shortcuts, we consulted professionals to make sure we were doing things correctly from the outset. The most important lesson? Be adaptable, remain transparent, and don’t give up.
People Power Success
Culture was fundamental from the start, never an afterthought. We were aware that our greatest strength was our team. Our two founders’ unique strengths, Paul in product and Sam in people and brand, have maintained the proper balance both internally and externally. The Altnets recruitment process places equal emphasis on values and skills.
This strategy has paid off; one of our greatest accomplishments is being listed as one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work. It supports the daily choices we make to prioritise people, from shared success bonuses and flexible work schedules to truly beneficial perks like private health insurance, gym memberships, and opportunities for everyone to develop professionally.
What’s Next?
Brighton will always be our home, but we have bigger goals in mind. We’re planning our initial ventures into international markets and expanding into the data centre industry, which has enormous potential.
However, our dedication to people, service, and quality will never fluctuate. These principles continue to be at the core of everything we do.
We are really grateful to South East Business magazine for giving us the chance to tell our story and appear on its cover. Being a part of Brighton’s flourishing business community is really important for us, and we’re determined to support its ongoing growth and success.
Read the full South East Business article here.