The UK is moving forward with the transition from traditional copper phone and broadband networks to modern digital infrastructure. This shift aims to enhance speed and reliability by replacing outdated wires that have been in use for over a century. BT’s Openreach, a key provider of telecoms infrastructure nationwide, has initiated a nationwide “stop sell” policy. This policy requires companies like BT, Sky, Plusnet, and TalkTalk to phase out legacy copper-based contracts and transition customers to full-fibre broadband and Digital Voice services.
Following the announcement of a “stop sell,” a specific timeframe is given before non-fibre connections are discontinued, indicating a serious commitment to the transition. The first exchange in the UK, Deddington in Oxfordshire, has officially ceased operations, no longer offering phone and other services to households. Former customers of this exchange can now access the internet and make calls exclusively through FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) technology.
Deddington is the initial exchange to close as part of a pilot program, with Ballyclare in Northern Ireland and Kenton Road in London scheduled to follow suit by the end of November. This marks the beginning of Openreach’s plan to retire approximately 4,600 copper-based exchanges countrywide as consumers shift to fibre-only services.
The move towards fibre networks brings significantly faster and more reliable speeds, often exceeding copper speeds by more than tenfold. Digital Voice users benefit from clearer calls and additional features such as call filtering. Additionally, fibre infrastructure is more space-efficient, relying on lightweight cables and software-based switches instead of bulky hardware used in copper systems.
Under the new scheme, Openreach will eventually operate just 1,000 advanced “super digital exchanges,” known as Openreach Handover Points (OHPs), to serve the entire UK. In Deddington alone, around 1,800 copper lines have been upgraded to full fibre, with services managed from the nearby Banbury OHP.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the scale of the project involving the migration of millions of services. He highlighted Deddington as a successful example of retiring old infrastructure securely and efficiently. This digital transition is expected to benefit both providers and consumers, reducing costs through network consolidation for providers and offering faster, more reliable fibre connections for consumers that are scalable for the future.
“It’s not just about switching off old kit—it’s about building a future-proof, simpler network for the UK,” said Lilley. Following Deddington, other exchanges such as Wraysbury, Childwall, Glengormley, and Staines are next in line for closure.