The transition in the UK from old copper phone and broadband lines to advanced full fibre technology is rapidly gaining momentum. Millions have already switched to this upgraded 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 list of areas nearing the end-of-life for copper services.
When a Stop Sell is declared at a phone exchange, internet service providers reliant on Openreach’s network, such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone, are prohibited from offering traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in regions where full fibre is accessible.
New contracts or renewals will necessitate a switch to fibre broadband, including the transition from traditional landlines to Digital Voice services. Digital Voice operates via the internet, eliminating the need for aging overhead wires.
Despite concerns raised by some older and vulnerable customers, Digital Voice offers improved call clarity and features like spam call blocking and call diversion to mobile phones.
Openreach assures that customers without access to full fibre will not be affected, allowing them to retain their existing copper-based services until fibre availability in their area.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of accelerating the UK’s move towards a modern full fibre future through the stop sell program. Transitioning customers to newer technologies is crucial as copper becomes less effective for modern communications.
By phasing out legacy copper services where fibre is widespread, the industry is facilitating a shift towards faster, more dependable digital infrastructure. This move reduces the complexity and costs of maintaining two networks and aligns with the imminent shutdown of the old PSTN phone network.
To verify service availability in your area, you can use the Openreach postcode checker to determine if full fibre has been deployed near you. The list of locations newly affected by Stop Sell alerts includes various areas across the UK.
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