nexfibre shareholders reject submitting remedies in UK CMA broadband merger inquiry

Shareholders in wholesale broadband venture nexfibre confirmed on 21 October 2026 that they will not submit a remedies package to resolve antitrust objections to their planned £2bn purchase of Substantial ^[1].

The move follows the UK Competition and Markets Authority's provisional finding that combining nexfibre with Substantial—which owns alternative networks Netomnia and Brsk—would substantially lessen competition in wholesale fixed-line broadband ^[1]. The CMA had identified outright prohibition as a primary prospective remedy ^[1].

Backers Liberty Global, Telefónica, and InfraVia argued that behavioral access commitments would be unworkable and disputed the CMA's assessment of alternative market consolidation scenarios ^[1].

What it measures

Phase 2 merger remedies and structural competition enforcement across the United Kingdom's alternative fibre-to-the-premises broadband infrastructure ^[1].

What it does not tell you

The refusal to offer remedies does not formally terminate the transaction, as the CMA Inquiry Group must still publish its final determination by 15 December 2026 ^[1].