BT Openreach confirms landline switch-off in 79 UK areas
Another 79 locations will move away from traditional phone and broadband services
by David Snelling, Kate Lally · Wales OnlineBroadband and telecoms companies such as BT, Sky and TalkTalk will no longer be able to offer traditional packages to customers, as old copper cables that dangle overhead being phased out. The old-style systems are being replaced with fast and more reliable full-fibre technology.
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. Openreach, owned by BT, says it is giving Communication Providers a year’s notice that will need to stop selling copper connections to homes in the future.
These "Stop Sell" notices come into effect when at least 75% of premises in an exchange area are capable of accessing ultrafast Full Fibre. Consequently, customers looking to switch, upgrade, or re-grade will be required to adopt services through Openreach's Full Fibre network, the Express reports.
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.
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.
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
- Abermul
- Yarrowford
- Cunningsburgh
- Weston-Super-Mare
- Shotts
- Whitstable
- Airdrie
- Liverpool
- Jarrow
- Bootle
- Great Wyrley
- Codsall
- Dewsbury
- Kempston
- Kings Norton
- Birmingham
- Market Harborough
- 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
James Lilley, Openreach’s managed customer migrations manager, said of the update: “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.”