Openreach Approaches Milestone in Copper Network Phase-Out

The copper network phase-out in the UK is accelerating as Openreach approaches a significant milestone in its initiative to modernize the country’s communication infrastructure. With a “stop sell” order now issued in 165 additional locations, the total number of areas affected by the move has reached 852, impacting over seven million homes and businesses. This action marks a critical step in the transition to full-fibre broadband, with a February 14, 2026, deadline for these areas to complete the shift.

The copper network phase-out is essential to ensure faster, more reliable broadband services for households and businesses. Fiber-optic cables, the backbone of the full-fiber network, are capable of delivering significantly higher speeds and better performance compared to the aging copper infrastructure. Openreach, responsible for rolling out this next-generation technology, has already made full-fiber available to 17 million UK premises, contributing to the broader national total of 20.7 million homes connected to full-fiber broadband.

James Lilley, Openreach’s director of managed customer migrations, highlighted the necessity of the transition. “The copper cables that have served us for decades are no longer able to meet modern demands. The shift to full-fiber broadband is critical for supporting the UK’s digital future.”

Major internet providers, including BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone, must comply with Openreach’s directives by halting the sale of copper-based services in the newly designated areas within the next 12 months. For customers in these locations, this means they must transition to full-fiber broadband by early 2026.

For regions not yet covered by full-fiber infrastructure, Openreach has assured customers that they can continue using their current copper-based plans until upgrades are complete. This staged approach aims to minimize disruption while encouraging widespread adoption of the new technology.

The copper network phase-out is part of a larger industry-wide effort to modernize telecommunication services in the UK. British Telecom (BT), for example, plans to retire its Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) infrastructure by December 2025. These outdated systems will be replaced with Voice over IP (VoIP) and other advanced IP-based solutions, signaling a complete shift from legacy technologies.

This coordinated effort reflects the pressing need for more robust and scalable solutions to support modern business operations, remote work, and growing data demands. By moving away from copper, service providers aim to enhance connectivity, reduce maintenance costs, and offer a more sustainable infrastructure.

To prepare for the copper network phase-out, customers can check their eligibility for full-fiber broadband using the postcode checker on Openreach’s website or by contacting their internet service provider. For those in the affected areas, early migration to full-fiber plans is encouraged to ensure continuity of service.

This upgrade also presents an opportunity to benefit from the enhanced speeds and reliability that full-fiber broadband delivers. Businesses, in particular, can leverage these improvements to streamline operations and better meet customer expectations.

The copper network phase-out represents a monumental shift in the UK’s telecommunications landscape. With Openreach nearing one million homes and businesses affected by its “stop sell” scheme, the transition to full-fiber is well underway. This transformation not only supports modern connectivity demands but also positions the UK to remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.