The transition in the UK from old copper phone and broadband lines to faster and more reliable full fibre technology is gaining momentum. Millions of users have already switched to this enhanced connectivity, and more households are set 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 end-of-life list. This initiative restricts internet service providers like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone from offering traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in areas where full fibre is accessible.
New contracts or renewals will now mandate a switch to fibre broadband due to the Stop Sell program. The transition also includes moving customers from traditional landlines to Digital Voice, a service that utilizes internet connections for calls instead of the outdated wiring.
Despite concerns raised by some older and vulnerable customers, Digital Voice offers improved call quality and features like spam call blocking and call diversion to mobile phones. Openreach assures that customers without full fibre access can continue using their existing copper-based services until fibre becomes available in their region.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of the Stop Sell program in advancing the UK’s transition to modern full fibre technology. The move to newer, more reliable digital infrastructure is aimed at reducing operational costs and complexity while supporting the industry-wide shift towards phasing out the old PSTN phone network.
Individuals can check the availability of services in their area using the Openreach postcode checker to determine if full fibre has been deployed. The list of locations affected by Stop Sell alerts includes areas like York, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, and many others across the UK.