The transition in the UK from outdated copper phone and broadband lines to faster and more reliable full fibre technology is gaining momentum. Millions have already made the switch to this enhanced connectivity, and more households are set to move away from copper cables soon.
BT’s Openreach has confirmed that 1.2 million properties will be impacted by the “Stop Sell” alerts, with 132 new locations added to the list of areas transitioning away from traditional copper-based services.
Once a Stop Sell alert is activated at a phone exchange, internet service providers relying on Openreach’s network, such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone, are prohibited from offering copper-based phone and broadband services in areas where full fibre is accessible. New contracts or renewals will necessitate a shift to fibre broadband, including a transition from traditional landlines to Digital Voice, which operates calls over the internet.
Although some older and vulnerable customers have expressed concerns about the change, Digital Voice offers improved call quality and features like spam call blocking and call diversion to mobile phones. Openreach has assured that customers without access to full fibre currently will not be affected and can continue with their existing copper-based services until fibre is available in their area.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of the stop sell program in advancing the UK’s transition to a full fibre future. By phasing out legacy copper services where full fibre is prevalent, the aim is to facilitate a smoother transition to faster, more dependable digital infrastructure, reducing operational costs and supporting the industry-wide shift towards the eventual shutdown of the old PSTN phone network.
To determine the available services in your location, you can utilize the Openreach postcode checker to ascertain if full fibre has been deployed in your area. Check your postcode here.
The list of newly affected locations by Stop Sell alerts includes various areas like Acomb, Rawmarsh, Kirkby In Ashfield, Seaham, and many others across different regions.