The transition in the UK from old-fashioned copper phone and broadband connections to faster and more dependable full fibre technology is gaining momentum. Millions have already made the switch to this upgraded connectivity in the past year, and more households are now set to move away from copper cables.
BT’s Openreach has officially announced that 1.2 million properties will be impacted by the “Stop Sell” alerts, with 132 additional locations being included in the end-of-life list.
For those unfamiliar, once a Stop Sell alert is issued at a phone exchange, internet service providers using Openreach’s network – such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone – are prohibited from selling traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in areas where full fibre is accessible.
Consequently, individuals signing new contracts or renewing existing ones will be compelled to switch to fibre broadband. This also applies to traditional landlines, which are gradually being phased out, with customers being shifted to Digital Voice instead. This service allows calls to be made over an internet connection rather than through the old wires still visible in many neighborhoods.
Although some elderly and vulnerable customers have expressed concerns about the transition, Digital Voice offers improved call quality and added features like spam call blocking and call forwarding to mobile phones.
Openreach has emphasized that customers who do not yet have access to full fibre will not be impacted. They can continue using their current copper-based services until full fibre becomes available in their area.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, commented on the development, stating that the stop sell initiative is crucial in expediting the UK’s shift to a modern full fibre future. With copper’s diminishing capacity to support modern communications, the focus is on migrating people to newer, future-proof technologies.
By retiring legacy copper services in areas where fibre is widely accessible, the aim is to help customers and providers transition to faster, more reliable digital infrastructure. This move also streamlines operations and supports the industry-wide shift leading up to the eventual shutdown of the old PSTN phone network, which is just over a year away.
To determine the services available in your area, you can use the Openreach postcode checker to see if full fibre has been deployed near you.
Here is the updated list of locations newly affected by the Stop Sell alerts:
[The list of locations was provided in the original article.]
This website and its partners use cookies and other identifiers to enhance user experience, analyze site usage, and display personalized ads. You can opt out of data sharing/selling at any time by clicking the designated button on the webpage. Your preferences are specific to your browser. By using the website and its services, you agree to the use of cookies and consent to the practices outlined in the Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.