The transition in the UK from old copper phone and broadband lines to faster and more reliable full fibre technology is gaining momentum. Millions have already made the switch to this enhanced connectivity, and more households will soon be compelled to move away from copper cables.
BT’s Openreach recently announced that 1.2 million properties will be impacted by the “Stop Sell” alerts, with 132 new locations added to the end-of-life list. This move prohibits internet service providers like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone from selling traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in areas where full fibre is accessible.
New contracts or renewals will necessitate a switch to fibre broadband, affecting traditional landlines as well, which are gradually being phased out in favor of Digital Voice. This service allows calls over an internet connection instead of the aging wires still visible in many areas.
While some older and vulnerable customers have expressed concerns about the change, Digital Voice offers improved call quality and features like spam call blocking and call diversion to mobile phones.
Openreach assured that customers without access to full fibre will not be impacted and can continue using their existing copper-based services until fibre is available in their region.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of the stop sell program in advancing the UK towards a modern full fibre future. By replacing legacy copper services with future-proof technologies where fibre is widely accessible, the transition to faster and more reliable digital infrastructure is facilitated, reducing operational costs and supporting the industry-wide shift as the old PSTN phone network shutdown approaches.
To determine the services available at your address, use the Openreach postcode checker to check for full fibre availability in your area.
The newly affected locations by the Stop Sell alerts include various areas across the UK.
