Last updated: Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) publishes its next decision, and no later than its statutory deadline of 15 December 2026.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd
As of 21 October 2026, the £2bn takeover of Netomnia, the network behind YouFibre, by nexfibre, a joint venture of Virgin Media O2’s owners Liberty Global and Telefónica with investor InfraVia, is in serious doubt. The CMA provisionally found on 2 October 2026 that the deal may substantially lessen competition in wholesale broadband, responses to that finding are due by 5pm on Friday 23 October, and the only remedy the CMA has put forward so far is blocking the deal. For YouFibre customers, nothing changes yet: the deal hasn’t completed and your contract price stays as agreed. This SwitchSquid explainer sets out what the CMA found, what happens next and what it means for your broadband. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.
Sources: CMA — nexfibre / Substantial merger inquiry, CMA — summary of interim report (2 October 2026), CMA — invitation to comment on remedies (20 October 2026), ISPreview — CMA raise competition fears over nexfibre’s £2bn Netomnia deal and telecoms.com — nexfibre rejects CMA’s position (all checked on 21 October 2026).
Comparing gigabit deals? BT Full Fibre 900 — £35.99 a month
Up to 900Mbps with a 700Mbps guarantee and 110Mbps upload for £35.99 a month on a 24-month contract when we checked on 21 October 2026
£0 activation fee on Openreach full fibre
Main limitation: the price rises to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028, and full fibre isn’t at every address
Who is buying Netomnia and YouFibre?
The buyer is nexfibre, a full fibre network company owned by Liberty Global, Telefónica and InfraVia Capital Partners. Liberty Global and Telefónica also jointly own Virgin Media O2 (VMO2), and the CMA describes VMO2 as nexfibre’s anchor and, at present, only customer. nexfibre’s network covers about 2.6 million premises, according to the CMA.
The company being bought is Substantial Group, the holding company for Netomnia and Brsk, which build and run full fibre networks, and YouFibre, which sells broadband to households. ISPreview reported that the deal was announced in February 2026 at about £2bn, and that under the plan nexfibre would sell the YouFibre retail business, with about 500,000 customers, to VMO2 for £150m.
What did the CMA find about the Netomnia deal?
In its interim report on 2 October 2026, the CMA provisionally concluded that the deal may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition in the supply of wholesale fixed broadband in the two companies’ combined full fibre footprints. Wholesale broadband is what network owners sell to the providers you buy from.
The CMA’s key point was about what would have happened without the deal. Its provisional view is that CityFibre, which also bid for Substantial, would likely have bought it instead and opened the network to its wholesale customers, including Sky and VodafoneThree, while selling YouFibre to another company.
CMA figure (interim report, 2 October 2026) | Value |
|---|---|
VMO2/nexfibre full fibre network overlapped by Substantial | c.14% |
VMO2/nexfibre network overlapped by CityFibre | c.18% |
Share of VMO2/nexfibre network with three wholesale networks if CityFibre had bought Substantial | c.32% |
Same share after the nexfibre deal | c.18% |
Substantial network overlapped by VMO2/nexfibre full fibre | c.26% |
Substantial network overlapped if VMO2 upgrades its cable network to full fibre | c.82% |
nexfibre full fibre network | c.2.6 million premises |
The CMA also provisionally rejected the companies’ main efficiency claim. It said the effects would fall disproportionately on homes and businesses in the Midlands and north of England, because Substantial’s network is concentrated there, including in Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester.
What happens on Friday 23 October?
Friday 23 October 2026 at 5pm is the deadline for anyone with an interest to respond to the CMA’s provisional findings. The CMA says responses go by email to nexfibre.substantial@cma.gov.uk, and that it will take all submissions received by then into account before its final decision.
There is a second deadline. On 20 October 2026, the CMA published an invitation to comment on remedies. It identified prohibition of the deal as a possible remedy, which would stop it completing and normally prevent the companies trying again without the CMA’s consent for ten years. The CMA said the parties haven’t made a remedy proposal. Comments on remedies are due by 5pm on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
What have nexfibre and CityFibre said?
nexfibre’s three shareholders strongly disagree with the CMA. In a joint statement reported by telecoms.com on 20 October 2026, they called the interim report “fundamentally flawed” and said the assumption that CityFibre would buy Netomnia “is not a credible basis on which to judge this transaction”. They said they had engaged on possible remedies, including commitments on investment and wholesale access, but had not submitted a package. They say the deal would unlock £3.5 billion of investment.
CityFibre takes the opposite view. A spokesperson told ISPreview that the CMA “is right that this proposed transaction would significantly reduce competition” and that the CMA should block the deal.
What does the Netomnia takeover mean for YouFibre customers?
For now, nothing changes. The deal hasn’t completed, and the CMA accepted interim undertakings from the companies on 17 July 2026 while it investigates. YouFibre says its prices are fixed for the length of your contract, so the price you signed up to stays the same.
If the CMA blocks the deal: Netomnia and YouFibre stay with their current owners, and YouFibre carries on as it is.
If the deal goes ahead: under the published plan, YouFibre would move to VMO2. ISPreview reported that the brand was expected to be kept, at least at first.
Either way: your existing contract terms still apply, and you can compare deals when your minimum term ends.
Our YouFibre review covers its current October offers, from £22 a month for You 200 on a 24-month contract. If you are weighing it against other full fibre networks, our full fibre deals guide and Virgin Media alternatives guide are good next steps.
Should I switch away from YouFibre because of the CMA case?
Not because of the CMA case alone. If you are happy and in contract, there is no reason to pay an early exit fee over a deal that may not happen. If your contract is ending, compare the full fibre and cable deals at your postcode as you normally would.
What other gigabit deals cost (checked 21 October 2026): BT Full Fibre 900 is £35.99 a month on a 24-month contract, rising to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028, with a 700Mbps minimum guaranteed speed. Virgin Media Gig1 is £29.99 a month on a 24-month term, moving to £43.69 after the minimum term, with average download speeds of 1,136Mbps.
Virgin Media Gig1 — £29.99 a month
Average download speeds of 1,136Mbps and 104Mbps upload
£29.99 a month on a 24-month term
Moves to £43.69 after the minimum term
Not sure which networks reach you? Ask Squid AI, SwitchSquid’s AI deal assistant, or use our guide to checking broadband deals by postcode.
Fit summary
YouFibre customer in contract: no action needed; your price is fixed for the term.
YouFibre customer near the end of contract: compare YouFibre’s current offers with the other networks at your postcode.
Thinking of joining YouFibre: the CMA case doesn’t change today’s offers, but follow the final decision due by 15 December 2026.
Important conditions
The CMA’s findings are provisional and could change after responses are considered.
The CMA’s statutory deadline for a final decision is 15 December 2026.
BT Full Fibre 900 rises to £39.99 from 31 March 2027 and £43.99 from 31 March 2028.
Virgin Media Gig1 moves to £43.69 after the 24-month minimum term.
Availability depends on your address for every provider.
Final decision card
In contract with YouFibre? Sit tight; nothing changes until the CMA decides.
Contract ending? Compare full fibre and cable deals at your postcode.
Want gigabit from a big provider? BT Full Fibre 900 at £35.99 or Virgin Media Gig1 at £29.99 a month.
Contract ending? Check BT Full Fibre 900
BT Full Fibre 900 for £35.99 a month, £0 activation fee
Switch by contacting BT only, with One Touch Switch
Check your current contract’s exit fee first
FAQ
Is Virgin Media buying YouFibre?
Under the deal announced in February 2026, nexfibre would buy Netomnia’s parent company and sell the YouFibre retail business to Virgin Media O2 for £150m, according to ISPreview. The deal hasn’t completed. The CMA has provisionally found competition concerns and could block it.
Will my YouFibre price go up because of the takeover?
Not during your current contract. YouFibre says its prices are fixed for the length of your contract, and the deal hasn’t completed. Check the terms of any new contract you sign later.
When will the CMA decide on the Netomnia deal?
The CMA’s statutory deadline for its final decision is 15 December 2026. Responses to its provisional findings are due by 5pm on Friday 23 October 2026. Comments on possible remedies are due by 5pm on Tuesday 27 October 2026.
Why is the CMA worried about the Netomnia takeover?
The CMA thinks CityFibre would likely have bought Netomnia’s parent company instead and opened the network to providers such as Sky and VodafoneThree. It says the nexfibre deal would mean less wholesale competition in parts of the UK. The effects would fall most on the Midlands and north of England.
Can the CMA block the deal?
Yes. On 20 October 2026, the CMA named prohibition as a possible remedy, which would stop the deal and normally prevent the companies trying again for ten years without its consent. The CMA said the parties haven’t proposed a remedy. Its final decision is due by 15 December 2026.
Should I cancel YouFibre because of the CMA case?
There is no need to pay an exit fee because of a deal that may not go ahead. Your contract terms stay the same until it ends. When it does, compare the deals available at your postcode.
Last updated: Wednesday 21 October 2026 (Europe/London).
Next update: after the CMA’s next published decision.
By: Switch Editorial Team, Switch Squid Ltd
