Hyperoptic

How ethical is Hyperoptic?

Hyperoptic is a broadband provider which has fallen well below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Broadband Providers Ratings Table. Hyperoptic’s below-benchmark performance reflects the conduct of its parent company, KKR & Co Inc., across a wide range of serious ethical concerns.

What does Hyperoptic do?

Hyperoptic is a full fibre broadband provider operating in the UK, offering fibre-to-the-premises connectivity to residential and business customers across major UK cities. The company is owned by KKR & Co Inc., one of the world’s largest private equity firms, headquartered in New York and listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Why does Hyperoptic fall below The GOOD Shopping Guide’s benchmark?

Hyperoptic’s below-benchmark performance is driven by poor ratings across the full range of criteria assessed by The GOOD Shopping Guide. The poor ratings for human rights and armaments are the most serious. KKR & Co Inc. has documented investments in defence and weapons manufacturing companies, including Circor International, an arms manufacturer acquired for approximately $1.6 billion, and Advanced Navigation, an Australian defence technology company. KKR’s investment portfolio also includes companies with documented ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including through its former stake in Axel Springer — whose subsidiary Yad2 hosted over a thousand paid advertisements for properties in illegal West Bank settlements — and Guesty, an Israeli property management platform alleged to facilitate the rental of properties on occupied Palestinian land. These investments have attracted significant public criticism, including artist boycotts of KKR-backed music festivals and formal regulatory complaints.

KKR has documented political donation activity in the United States, contributing to the poor political donations rating. Violation Tracker records over 220 penalty instances relating to KKR and its portfolio companies totalling more than $678 million since 2000, contributing to the two poor other criticisms ratings. The poor ratings for fossil fuels, animal welfare, and irresponsible marketing reflect further concerns across KKR’s global investment portfolio and operations.

Consumers seeking broadband providers that meet The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark are encouraged to consult our Ethical Broadband Providers Ratings Table and our guide to ethical broadband providers, and seek out brands that hold The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation. Our how we rate page explains the criteria used to assess all brands in this sector.