---
title: UK telecoms media reputation tracker – September 2026
canonical_url: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09
type: dataset
publisher: Omniscan
sector: UK Telecoms
period: September 2026
coverage_start: '2026-09-01'
coverage_end: '2026-09-30'
date_published: '2026-10-04'
last_updated: '2026-10-04'
organisations: 8
articles_analysed: 840
mentions: 1000
data_download: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/data.json
summary: BT / EE had the highest average monthly share of coverage (34.6%) among 8
  operators in UK earned media from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026, ahead of
  VodafoneThree (23.8%) and Virgin Media O2 (22.6%).
---

# UK telecoms media reputation tracker: September 2026 (1 September 2026–30 September 2026)

> BT / EE had the highest average monthly share of coverage (34.6%) among 8 operators in UK earned media from 1 September 2026 to 30 September 2026, ahead of VodafoneThree (23.8%) and Virgin Media O2 (22.6%). VodafoneThree had the most favourable net tone (+49). Omniscan analysed 840 articles containing 1,000 mentions of the operators tracked.

Interactive version: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09

## UK Telecoms ranking by share of coverage, September 2026

| Rank | Organisation | Average monthly share of coverage | Mentions | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Net tone |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | BT / EE | 34.6% | 346 | 30% | 51% | 19% | +10 |
| 2 | VodafoneThree | 23.8% | 238 | 59% | 32% | 9% | +49 |
| 3 | Virgin Media O2 | 22.6% | 226 | 40% | 39% | 21% | +18 |
| 4 | Sky | 6.6% | 66 | 38% | 45% | 17% | +21 |
| 5 | TalkTalk | 6.5% | 65 | 0% | 17% | 83% | −83 |
| 6 | CityFibre | 4.0% | 40 | 45% | 53% | 2% | +43 |
| 7 | Community Fibre | 1.7% | 17 | 47% | 53% | 0% | +47 |
| 8 | Hyperoptic | 0.2% | 2 | 50% | 0% | 50% | 0 |

## Operators in detail

### BT / EE

**Ofcom ruling leads BT / EE’s September agenda**

BT / EE ranked 1st of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (34.6%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 346 mentions and a net tone of +10.

Ofcom’s order for Openreach to withdraw a proposed wholesale full-fibre discount of up to £9.50 per customer for 30 months was the month’s most prominent BT-focused development. BT / EE ranked first with 346 mentions, representing 34.6% of tracked-company mentions. Network and infrastructure rollout was the largest subject area with 74 mentions, followed by regulation and policy with 69, products and service launches with 58, and financial results and corporate strategy with 35. Other material developments included scrutiny of 42,000 Openreach FTTP addresses no longer available to order and reports that BT could generate up to £2 billion over ten years by recycling surplus copper. EE also refreshed its television packages with a £10 promotional offer combining Netflix Standard with Ads and NOW Entertainment, while BT promoted broadband security features through a new campaign. Digital Voice migration formed another strand of coverage, including BT’s call for remaining customers to act before the January 2027 PSTN retirement and reporting on an elderly customer whose landline was disconnected.

Key messages:

- BT / EE accounted for 34.6% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #1 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre) and Regulation & policy (Ofcom, CMA).
- 346 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- Openreach ordered to withdraw its proposed wholesale full-fibre discount — independent.co.uk

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 21.4% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 1.21, net tone +46)
- Regulation & policy (Ofcom, CMA): 19.9% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 2.17, net tone −64)
- Products, devices & service launches: 16.8% of BT / EE's coverage (theme index 0.6, net tone +40)

Notable positive coverage:

- 2 September 2026, mobileeurope.co.uk: [Inside Openreach’s final push to shut down the UK’s old telephone network](https://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/openreach-james-lilley-pstn/). Openreach details its final migration of remaining customers from the UK PSTN before January 2027, including support for businesses and vulnerable telecare users. It says it has invested £15 billion in fibre and expects full-fibre availability to reach 25 million premises by end-2026.
- 3 September 2026, mobilenewscwp.co.uk: [EE expands store role with online safety service](https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/ee-expands-store-role-with-online-safety-service/). EE is introducing free bookable Parents’ Evening appointments in its stores to help families manage children’s online safety, parental controls and social-media settings. The initiative supports EE’s Safer SIM and home-broadband family proposition.
- 4 September 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [Openreach full fibre mapping breaks 23.5 million premises milestone](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/openreach-full-fibre-mapping-breaks-23-5-million-premises-milestone). Openreach's full-fibre network has reached more than 23.5 million ready-for-service premises, or about 70% of UK premises. The article compares its footprint with Virgin Media's roughly 10 million premises and CityFibre's 4.4 million ready-for-service premises.

Notable negative coverage:

- 28 September 2026, standard.co.uk: [BT’s Openreach ordered by Ofcom to pull new customer deal](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/openreach-ofcom-virgin-media-sky-vodafone-b1298620.html). Ofcom ordered BT-owned Openreach to withdraw a proposed wholesale full-fibre discount, judging it unfair and potentially harmful to sustainable broadband competition. Virgin Media welcomed the intervention and called for stronger oversight of Openreach.
- 28 September 2026, theregister.com: [Ofcom pulls the plug on Openreach's aggressive fiber discount](https://www.theregister.com/networks/2026/09/28/ofcom-pulls-the-plug-on-openreachs-aggressive-fiber-discount/5299427). Ofcom has permanently blocked Openreach's Incremental New to Openreach FTTP discount, saying it could prevent efficient rival networks from recovering their costs. The regulator allowed several other Openreach commercial offers, including a smaller offer in Virgin Media O2 areas, to proceed.
- 28 September 2026, walesonline.co.uk: [BT Openreach told to withdraw £9.50 offer by Ofcom](https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/bt-openreach-told-withdraw-950-34680776). Ofcom has ordered BT-owned Openreach to withdraw its proposed £9.50-a-month wholesale full-fibre discount for new customers. The regulator said the offer could unfairly harm competition from alternative network providers.

- [BT / EE deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=btee&view=deep-dive)
- [BT / EE PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/btee.pdf)

### VodafoneThree

**VodafoneThree pairs SuperMobile and TV launches with second-place visibility**

VodafoneThree ranked 2nd of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (23.8%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 238 mentions and a net tone of +49.

Reuters reported VodafoneThree’s launch of a UK TV service and its premium SuperMobile proposition offering guaranteed faster speeds. The operator ranked second with 238 mentions, representing 23.8% of tracked-company mentions. Products, devices and service launches dominated the subject mix with 102 mentions, followed by network and infrastructure rollout with 47 and pricing and tariffs with 28. Independent reporting also covered SuperMobile’s 5G+ network slicing, Vodafone TV’s use of Netgem’s PLEIO platform and a £100 credit for customers switching to selected SIM-only plans. Later in September, GB News reported the launch of an £11-per-month 5G broadband social tariff and flexible plans, alongside preparations for Pro 4 broadband with a Wi-Fi 7 router and trials of speeds up to 8Gbps. Other coverage included warnings about scam calls impersonating Vodafone and VodafoneThree’s planned event at the Reform UK conference.

Key messages:

- VodafoneThree accounted for 23.8% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #2 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, devices & service launches and Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre).
- 238 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- VodafoneThree launched its TV service and guaranteed-speed mobile offer — Reuters.

Leading themes:

- Products, devices & service launches: 42.9% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 2.35, net tone +78)
- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 19.7% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 1.05, net tone +60)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 11.8% of VodafoneThree's coverage (theme index 1.49, net tone +14)

Notable positive coverage:

- 1 September 2026, nationalworld.com: [Vodafone Business broadband deal gives new customers a £150 Gift Card](https://www.nationalworld.com/recommended/vodafone-broadband-business-fibre-reward-8953743). Vodafone Business is offering eligible new UK business broadband customers a £150 gift card on 24-month Full Fibre 500 or 900 contracts. The offer is subject to availability and eligibility conditions.
- 2 September 2026, telegraph.co.uk: [Vodafone Promo Code: 25% off in September 2026](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/deals/vodafone-discount-codes/). A commercial deals page lists Vodafone UK mobile, SIM-only and broadband discounts, including Advantage, student, trade-in and bundled-service offers. It cites broadband from £24 per month and selected discounts of up to 25%.
- 3 September 2026, reuters.com: [UK's VodafoneThree launches TV and guaranteed-speed mobile offer](https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/uks-vodafonethree-launches-tv-guaranteed-speed-mobile-offer-2026-09-03/). VodafoneThree launched a UK TV service aimed at improving its broadband offer against rival converged providers. It also launched a premium mobile proposition with guaranteed faster speeds.

Notable negative coverage:

- 25 September 2026, sundayguardianlive.com: [Three Network Down Today: Is 3 (Three) Down? Users Report Signal, Calls, Data and Internet Issues Across the UK | Three Outage Downdetector Status](https://sundayguardianlive.com/tech-news/three-network-down-today-is-3-three-down-users-report-signal-calls-data-and-internet-issues-across-the-uk-three-outage-downdetector-status-today-292401/). Customers across the UK reported apparent Three network problems affecting signal, calls, texts and mobile data. The reported outage had not been formally confirmed by Three and its cause and duration remained unclear.
- 7 September 2026, express.co.uk: [Vodafone users told accounts are being suspended as worrying alert issued](https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/science-technology/2246016/vodafone-fake-phone-call-scam). Customers are being warned about scam calls impersonating Vodafone and falsely claiming that accounts will be suspended. Vodafone advises customers not to share information and to contact the provider directly if concerned.
- 1 September 2026, cityam.com: [Vodafone and Deliveroo court Reform after Yusuf prison threats](https://www.cityam.com/vodafone-and-deliveroo-at-reform-conference/). VodafoneThree is due to host a Reform UK conference event on digital-infrastructure investment despite Reform politician Zia Yusuf having threatened Vodafone's executives with criminal liability over SIM cards donated to a refugee charity. The company declined to comment.

- [VodafoneThree deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=vodafonethree&view=deep-dive)
- [VodafoneThree PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/vodafonethree.pdf)

### Virgin Media O2

**Cost-cutting plans frame Virgin Media O2’s network expansion**

Virgin Media O2 ranked 3rd of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (22.6%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 226 mentions and a net tone of +18.

The Financial Times reported that Virgin Media O2’s shareholders were seeking about £600mn in cost reductions amid concern over its £22bn debt, falling bond prices and broadband customer losses. Network developments included extending 5G+ standalone coverage to more than 800,000 Northern Ireland residents and activating new 4G and 5G small cells in Tonbridge and Canterbury. The operator also launched a voice agent for routine broadband-fault calls while retaining human advisers for complex cases. Its planned transfer of legacy Virgin email accounts to Junara attracted coverage of the 99p migration fee and possible annual charges after 12 free months. Virgin Media O2 recorded 226 mentions and a 22.6% share of tracked-company mentions, placing it third. Network and infrastructure was the largest subject with 50 mentions, followed by products and services with 37 and regulation and policy with 36, while customer service, outages and reliability accounted for 27. Regulatory coverage included its complaint over an Openreach discount and the expected Ofcom ruling.

Key messages:

- Virgin Media O2 accounted for 22.6% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #3 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre) and Products, devices & service launches.
- 226 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- Virgin Media O2 owners target £600mn in cost cuts — Financial Times

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 22.1% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 1.22, net tone +56)
- Products, devices & service launches: 16.4% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 0.62, net tone +8)
- Regulation & policy (Ofcom, CMA): 15.9% of Virgin Media O2's coverage (theme index 1.33, net tone +33)

Notable positive coverage:

- 3 September 2026, telecomtv.com: [O2 brings next-generation 5G+ connectivity to communities across Northern Ireland](https://www.telecomtv.com/content/5g/o2-brings-next-generation-5g-connectivity-to-communities-across-northern-ireland-56171/). O2 has expanded its 5G+ standalone network across Northern Ireland, covering more than 800,000 residents across cities, towns and smaller communities. The rollout is part of Virgin Media O2's £700 million UK Mobile Transformation Plan.
- 3 September 2026, datacenterdynamics.com: [Virgin Media O2 rolls out 5G+ network to Northern Ireland](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/virgin-media-o2-rolls-out-5g-network-to-northern-ireland/). Virgin Media O2 has launched 5G+ standalone coverage across Northern Ireland, reaching more than 800,000 residents. The deployment forms part of its £700 million investment in the UK network during 2026.
- 3 September 2026, telecompaper.com: [Virgin Media O2 activates 5G+ network across Northern Ireland](https://www.telecompaper.com/news/virgin-media-o2-activates-5g-network-across-northern-ireland--1581610). Virgin Media O2 has activated its 5G+ network across Northern Ireland, covering more than 800,000 residents. The deployment forms part of O2's £700 million Mobile Transformation Plan.

Notable negative coverage:

- 22 September 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [Does O2 (or MVNO) support 5G Home Broadband? | Page 2](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/threads/does-o2-or-mvno-support-5g-home-broadband.45013/post-472669). Forum users discuss O2 network carrier aggregation, alleged SIM throttling and the lack of a promoted 5G fixed-wireless home-broadband service. VodafoneThree's shared-host network configuration is also discussed.
- 28 September 2026, bbc.co.uk: [BBC Radio 4 - You and Yours, Diesel Prices Hit Record High](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00323yj). A BBC Radio 4 programme preview says Virgin Media customers are being told they must pay to retain their email addresses. The programme will examine whether this could signal a wider trend.
- 23 September 2026, thesun.co.uk: [Sky rival warns millions risk losing ALL films and TV shows after Nov 1 deadline](https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/40472054/sky-rival-warns-millions-lose-tv-shows-films-access/). Virgin Media Store will close on 1 November, requiring customers to transfer previously purchased films and television programmes to Rakuten TV to retain access. The closure affects Virgin Media TV customers using compatible set-top boxes.

- [Virgin Media O2 deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=virginmediao2&view=deep-dive)
- [Virgin Media O2 PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/virginmediao2.pdf)

### Sky

**Sky pairs full-fibre launch with refunds after pricing error**

Sky ranked 4th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (6.6%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 66 mentions and a net tone of +21.

Sky launched a 1.6Gbps full-fibre service over Openreach, priced from £38 a month and supplied with its WiFi 7 Gigafast+ hub. It also confirmed refunds for TV and broadband customers who were not notified in advance of April price rises, with affected customers able to cancel without early-termination charges. Other developments included nationwide 5G+ connectivity for eligible Sky Mobile eSIM users, selected iPhone 17 price reductions and coverage of a customer leaving after a prolonged broadband outage. Sky ranked fourth with 66 mentions, representing 6.6% of tracked-company mentions. Products, devices and service launches formed the largest subject area with 26 mentions, followed by pricing and tariffs with 20; network and infrastructure accounted for six, while regulation and policy accounted for five. Ofcom also blocked a proposed Openreach wholesale discount that could have enabled Sky and other retail providers to reduce some broadband prices, citing risks to sustainable competition.

Key messages:

- Sky accounted for 6.6% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #4 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, devices & service launches and Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises.
- 66 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- Sky’s 1.6Gbps full-fibre launch — Express.co.uk

Leading themes:

- Products, devices & service launches: 39.4% of Sky's coverage (theme index 1.71, net tone +54)
- Pricing, tariffs & mid-contract rises: 30.3% of Sky's coverage (theme index 4.16, net tone 0)
- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 9.1% of Sky's coverage (theme index 0.46, net tone 0)

Notable positive coverage:

- 2 September 2026, gbnews.com: [Sky Mobile unleashes 'more reliable connection' and 'smoother performance' nationwide in major network boost](https://www.gbnews.com/tech/sky-mobile-5g-plus). Sky Mobile is enabling 5G+ standalone connectivity nationwide for eligible eSIM users with selected Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip handsets. The MVNO uses Virgin Media O2 infrastructure and says the service improves performance during network congestion.
- 22 September 2026, choose.co.uk: [Cheapest ways to get Sky Sports in 2026](https://www.choose.co.uk/tv/guide/sky-sports-cheapest-deals/). A pricing guide compares UK Sky Sports packages from Sky, Virgin Media, BT and EE, including broadband bundles and flexible monthly options. It identifies Sky as the cheapest TV-only option and Virgin Media as a strong option for faster broadband bundles.
- 25 September 2026, gbnews.com: [Sky Broadband supercharges speed for millions of British homes](https://www.gbnews.com/tech/sky-broadband-1-6-gbps). Sky Broadband has launched a 1.6Gbps full-fibre package over Openreach infrastructure, available to 79% of UK households, with prices from £38 per month. Sky also offers up to 5Gbps in CityFibre areas and supplies a Wi-Fi 7 Gigafast+ hub.

Notable negative coverage:

- 28 September 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Sky customers told they're getting refunds after 'error'](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/sky-customers-sent-letters-saying-37710521). Sky is refunding affected customers after failing to provide advance notice of April 2026 price increases. Customers can cancel without early-termination charges within 31 days of notification if unhappy with the change.
- 12 September 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Martin Lewis' haggling method got me faster broadband for less](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/tried-martin-lewis-haggling-method-37644788). A Sky broadband customer says a weeks-long outage allowed them to leave their contract without an early termination fee after Sky offered only a small retention discount. The customer switched to EE full-fibre broadband at the same monthly price, reporting doubled download speeds.
- 28 September 2026, cambridge-news.co.uk: [Sky confirms refunds for TV and broadband subscribers after 'error'](https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cost-of-living/sky-confirms-refunds-tv-broadband-34682909). Sky is refunding affected TV and broadband customers after failing to notify them in advance of price rises that took effect on 1 April 2026. Customers may cancel without early termination charges within 31 days of receiving the notice.

- [Sky deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=sky&view=deep-dive)
- [Sky PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/sky.pdf)

### TalkTalk

**TalkTalk sale talks dominate amid administration risk**

TalkTalk ranked 5th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (6.5%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 65 mentions and a net tone of −83.

TalkTalk said it was in the final stages of selling its consumer and PXC wholesale businesses, with The Independent reporting potential transactions involving Opus Broadband and Octopus Investments. Separate reporting described an immediate administration risk, substantial debt, customer losses and reports that TalkTalk was behind on payments to Openreach, while the government and Ofcom monitored developments amid concerns about continuity of services. TalkTalk recorded 65 mentions and a 6.5% share of tracked-company mentions, ranking fifth among the tracked companies in September. The subject mix was dominated by mergers, acquisitions and consolidation, which accounted for 33 mentions, followed by financial results and corporate strategy with 18; customer service accounted for three mentions and network and infrastructure for two. ThinkBroadband subsequently reported Ares Management as the leading contender for the consumer division, in a deal valued at about £200 million. Customer-facing coverage explained how services, contracts and telephone numbers could be handled if TalkTalk were sold or entered administration.

Key messages:

- TalkTalk accounted for 6.5% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #5 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Mergers, M&A & consolidation and Financial results & corporate strategy.
- 65 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- TalkTalk’s final-stage negotiations to sell its consumer and wholesale divisions — The Independent

Leading themes:

- Mergers, M&A & consolidation: 50.8% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 14.38, net tone −88)
- Financial results & corporate strategy: 27.7% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 4.11, net tone −100)
- Customer service, outages & reliability: 4.6% of TalkTalk's coverage (theme index 0.6, net tone −100)

Notable negative coverage:

- 25 September 2026, independent.co.uk: [TalkTalk in 'final stages' of deals to sell divisions amid administration threat](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/talktalk-britain-government-mod-london-b3056269.html). TalkTalk says it is in the final stages of sales processes for its consumer and wholesale businesses, amid concerns it could enter administration. Potential transactions involve Opus Broadband for the consumer arm and Octopus Investments for PXC.
- 26 September 2026, thisismoney.co.uk: [TalkTalk's financial crisis poses a profound test for the government](https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-16160389/TalkTalks-financial-crisis-poses-profound-test-Burnhams-government-says-ALEX-BRUMMER.html). TalkTalk's financial crisis, estimated £1.2 billion net debt and potential administration are presented as risks to its 1.5 million customers, the Ministry of Defence and around 900 jobs. The article argues that government and Ofcom should help secure protection for customers and vital services.
- 25 September 2026, theguardian.com: [TalkTalk races to sell consumer and broadband arms as administration looms](https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/sep/25/talktalk-administration-deal-sell-consumer-arm). TalkTalk is close to selling its consumer business to Opus Broadband and wholesale arm PXC to Octopus Investments as it seeks to avoid administration. The deals could protect around 900 jobs, but follow severe customer losses and substantial debt.

- [TalkTalk deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=talktalk&view=deep-dive)
- [TalkTalk PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/talktalk.pdf)

### CityFibre

**Project Gigabit delivery defined CityFibre’s September coverage**

CityFibre ranked 6th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (4.0%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 40 mentions and a net tone of +43.

CityFibre brought further Project Gigabit-supported full-fibre connections live around Teynham, with thinkbroadband reporting a UK footprint of 4.4 million service-ready premises. The operator also extended availability to villages outside Worthing, where roughly a quarter of a planned 12,000-premises deployment had been delivered. In Norfolk, however, its Project Gigabit build was reduced from about 62,200 to around 33,000 hard-to-reach premises. CityFibre ranked sixth with 40 mentions and a 4.0% share of tracked-company mentions. Network and infrastructure rollout led the subject mix with nine mentions, followed by regulation and policy and product and service launches with eight each, and competition and market dynamics with five. A reported installation failure involving a CityFibre subcontractor also brought customer-service responsibilities into the coverage. As context, wider sector articles referenced CityFibre’s network in Vodafone’s 8Gbps broadband trials and service plans, alongside coverage of Openreach pricing and competing fibre offers.

Key messages:

- CityFibre accounted for 4% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #6 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre) and Regulation & policy (Ofcom, CMA).
- 40 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- More Project Gigabit full fibre from CityFibre has gone live — thinkbroadband.com

Leading themes:

- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 22.5% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 1.19, net tone +44)
- Regulation & policy (Ofcom, CMA): 20.0% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 1.59, net tone +63)
- Products, devices & service launches: 20.0% of CityFibre's coverage (theme index 0.82, net tone +75)

Notable positive coverage:

- 7 September 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [CityFibre full fibre arrives in villages outside Worthing](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/cityfibre-full-fibre-arrives-in-villages-outside-worthing). CityFibre has made full-fibre services available in several villages outside Worthing through its Project Gigabit contract for East and West Sussex. The contract has delivered roughly a quarter of its planned 12,000-premises footprint so far.
- 22 September 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [More Project Gigabit full fibre from CityFibre has gone live](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/more-project-gigabit-full-fibre-from-cityfibre-has-gone-live). CityFibre has brought further Project Gigabit-supported full-fibre addresses live around Teynham, Kent. Its UK footprint is reported at 4.4 million premises ready for service.

Notable negative coverage:

- 3 September 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [Norfolk County Council Issues Update After CityFibre Scale-Back Fibre Broadband Build](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/09/norfolk-county-council-issues-update-after-cityfibre-scale-back-fibre-broadband-build.html). CityFibre has reduced its Norfolk Project Gigabit build from roughly 62,200 to around 33,000 hard-to-reach premises. Remaining eligible areas are expected to move into a new Type C procurement, for which Openreach is expected to be the principal bidder.

- [CityFibre deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=cityfibre&view=deep-dive)
- [CityFibre PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/cityfibre.pdf)

### Community Fibre

**8.5Gbps launch leads Community Fibre’s September coverage**

Community Fibre ranked 7th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (1.7%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 17 mentions and a net tone of +47.

Community Fibre connected its first London residential customer to an 8.5Gbps symmetrical service, priced at £300 per month, with independent coverage across thinkbroadband.com, ISPreview, Comms Business, TechRadar and the Express. The operator also doubled speeds for new customers on most 24-month packages without raising promotional prices, including 1Gbps for £21 and 5Gbps for £43 per month, although reports noted annual £3 increases. Community Fibre ranked seventh with 17 mentions and a 1.7% share of tracked-company mentions. Products, devices and service launches dominated the subject mix with nine mentions, while network rollout, pricing, and customer service and reliability accounted for two each. Other company-focused coverage reported that Community Fibre-owned Box Broadband reached 14,300 customers in 2025, while a customer-service article examined installation routing, charges and VoIP number-porting concerns. Commercial coverage in the Daily Star presented Community Fibre’s £7-a-month Norton 360 Premium partnership, while, as context, an Express article about Sky’s 1.6Gbps launch compared it with Community Fibre’s faster but substantially more expensive service.

Key messages:

- Community Fibre accounted for 1.7% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #7 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, devices & service launches and Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre).
- 17 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- First 8.5Gbps XGS-PON residential connection in London — thinkbroadband.com

Leading themes:

- Products, devices & service launches: 52.9% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 2.24, net tone +67)
- Customer service, outages & reliability: 11.8% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 1.58, net tone 0)
- Network & infrastructure rollout (5G, full fibre): 11.8% of Community Fibre's coverage (theme index 0.62, net tone 0)

Notable positive coverage:

- 17 September 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [Community Fibre installs first 8.5 Gbps XGS-PON residential service in London](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/community-fibre-installs-first-8-5-gbps-xgs-pon-residential-service-in-london). Community Fibre has connected its first London residential customer to an 8.5Gbps symmetrical XGS-PON broadband service. The service is priced at £300 per month and is available on its XGS-PON footprint.
- 17 September 2026, commsbusiness.co.uk: [Community Fibre connects first 8.5 Gbps residential broadband customer in London](https://www.commsbusiness.co.uk/content/news/community-fibre-connects-first-85-gbps-residential-broadband-customer-in-london). Community Fibre connected its first London residential customer to an 8.5 Gbps symmetrical full-fibre service, up from 5 Gbps. The provider says its network passes 1.4 million homes around London and serves more than 450,000 customers.
- 23 September 2026, thinkbroadband.com: [Community Fibre offering Gigabit full fibre for £21 a month to new customers](https://www.thinkbroadband.com/news/community-fibre-offering-gigabit-full-fibre-for-21-a-month-to-new-customers). Community Fibre is offering new customers doubled broadband speeds, including 1Gbps for £21 per month and 5Gbps for £43 per month on 24-month contracts. The article notes annual £3 rises and compares its voice bundle pricing favourably with BT's home-phone charges amid the PSTN switch-off.

- [Community Fibre deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=communityfibre&view=deep-dive)
- [Community Fibre PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/communityfibre.pdf)

### Hyperoptic

**Extended outage defines Hyperoptic’s September coverage**

Hyperoptic ranked 8th of 8 by average monthly share of coverage (0.2%) in the UK Telecoms benchmark for September 2026, with 2 mentions and a net tone of 0.

The clearest Hyperoptic-specific coverage was an ISPreview customer review reporting a seven-day outage and a further six-day wait for an engineer. The reviewer alleged that support failed to recognise a wider neighbourhood fault or escalate the issue promptly. Hyperoptic ranked eighth, with two mentions representing 0.2% of tracked-company mentions. The other mention concerned competition and market dynamics. Which? reported that a customer switching from Virgin Media to Hyperoptic secured faster broadband at a lower monthly price.

Key messages:

- Hyperoptic accounted for 0.2% of tracked-company mentions and ranked #8 among 8 in September 2026.
- Coverage concentrated on Customer service, outages & reliability and Competition & market dynamics.
- 2 captured company mentions were recorded in September 2026.
- ISPreview: “GTom's Review for Hyperoptic” reported an extended outage and delayed engineer response.

Leading themes:

- Customer service, outages & reliability: 50.0% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 6.74, net tone −100)
- Competition & market dynamics: 50.0% of Hyperoptic's coverage (theme index 13.49, net tone +100)

Notable negative coverage:

- 3 September 2026, ispreview.co.uk: [GTom's Review for Hyperoptic](https://www.ispreview.co.uk/review/reviews/8318/). A Hyperoptic customer review reports an internet outage lasting seven days, with a further six-day wait for an engineer. The reviewer alleges that support failed to recognise a wider neighbourhood fault or escalate the issue promptly.

- [Hyperoptic deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09?entity=hyperoptic&view=deep-dive)
- [Hyperoptic PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09/reports/hyperoptic.pdf)

## Methodology

- **Share of coverage**: an organisation's mentions divided by all mentions of the organisations tracked in the same sector that month, in UK earned media. It is the central measure of media visibility in Omniscan benchmarks. "Average monthly share" is the mean of the monthly shares across the reporting period.
- **Mention**: one article that covers an organisation, classified as positive, neutral or negative in tone. Articles are deduplicated, and an organisation's own websites and passing sponsorship name-checks are excluded, so only earned media counts.
- **Net tone**: positive mentions minus negative mentions, as a percentage of all mentions (range −100 to +100).
- **Themes**: every article is assigned to one of the sector's editorial themes. A theme index above 1 means the organisation is covered on that theme more than its peers are; below 1 means less.
- **Calculation**: every figure is computed directly from the classified articles; narrative summaries are checked against those figures.
- **Sources**: UK national and international, trade and specialist, regional and local, and aggregator and syndication earned media.

## Other UK Telecoms editions

- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – 2026 year to date](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-ytd.md)
- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – H1 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-h1.md)
- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – July 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-07.md)
- [UK telecoms media reputation tracker – August 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-08.md)
- [All Omniscan media benchmarks](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks.md)

## How to cite

Omniscan, "UK telecoms media reputation tracker", September 2026 (1 September 2026–30 September 2026), published 4 October 2026. https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-telecoms-2026-09