The UK is slowly switching to a digital future with ageing copper cables that dangle above towns and cities being replaced by faster and more reliable full-fibre technology. These changes mean broadband and telecoms firms such as BT, Sky and TalkTalk will no longer be able to sell legacy deals to customers in areas where the transition has come into force.
A large number of areas have already moved away from traditional copper-based phone and broadband services and now there are another 79 locations where the block is set to come into force next year.
This latest update has just been confirmed by BT-owned Openreach who says it is giving Communication Providers a year’s notice that will need to stop selling copper connections to homes in the future.
These so-called “Stop Sell” alerts are triggered when a majority (75 percent) of premises connected to a particular exchange can get ultrafast Full Fibre. Customers who then want to switch, upgrade or re-grade their broadband or phone service will have to take a new digital service over the Openreach new Full Fibre network.
Full Fibre has its benefits as it offers internet speeds that are far superior to copper but the switchover to digital has caused some worry for landline only customers as the new phone calling technology requires broadband to work.
There are some older UK residents that simply don’t have the web whilst others have been concerned by what happens should the internet go offline and they don’t have access to a mobile device.
These worries are being addressed with BT hoping that the majority of UK homes will be moved seamlessly to Digital Voice by 2027.
Openreach has also confirmed that customers not yet able to get Ultrafast Full Fibre at their premises won’t be impacted, and can stay on their existing copper based service until Full Fibre does become available.
If you want to know what service is available in your road you can visit the Openreach postcode checker to see if things have been upgraded.
CHECK YOUR POSTCODE HERE
You’ll find the full list of new areas that will be moved away from copper below.
The 79 new locations with “Stop sell” alerts from next year.
Collingham • Sheffield • Mexborough • Chesterfield • Burnham-on-Sea • Bridgnorth
Bury St Edmunds • Caersws • Taverham • Hartlepool • Machynlleth • Pocklington
Riccall • Rowhedge • Shepton Mallet • Antrim • Gatehouse of Fleet • Bladnoch
Powfoot • Bobbington • Buchlyvie • Brig o’Turk • Pierowall • Medbourne • Newport Pagnell
Carlton (Gedling) • Eastleigh • Abermule • Yarrowford • Cunningsburgh • Weston-Super-Mare
Shotts • Whitstable • Airdrie • Liverpool • Jarrow • Bootle • Great Wyrley • Codsall • Dewsbury
Kempston • Kings Norton • Birmingham • Market Harborough • St Helens • Runcorn • Stafford • Wantage
West Bromwich • South Hampshire • Sheffield • Barrow-in-Furness • Llay • Swansea • Rawtenstall
Ellon • Swindon (Wiltshire) • Antrim • Londonderry • Tyrone • Greater London – Richmond upon Thames
Royal Tunbridge Wells • Redcar • Scarborough • Tewkesbury • Norwich • Wrexham • Ibstock
Aldridge • Pontefract • Great Bridgeford • St Helens • West Bromwich • Greater Manchester – Bolton
Brigg • Lowestoft • Dorchester (West Dorset) • Cowes • Haywards Heath • Penzance
Speaking about the update, James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, said: “We’re moving to a digital world and Openreach is helping with that transformation by rolling out ultrafast, ultra-reliable, and future-proofed digital Full Fibre across the UK. This game changing technology will become the backbone of our economy for decades to come, supporting every aspect of our public services, businesses, industries and daily lives.
“Already, our Full Fibre network is available to more than 15 million homes and businesses, with more than five million premises currently taking a service.
“Taking advantage of the progress of our Full Fibre build and encouraging people to upgrade where a majority can access our new network is the right thing to do as it makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side. As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future proofed technologies.”
