The push towards digital voice and full-fibre broadband continues with 163 new locations facing older copper technology being switched off.
The UK’s broadband and phone network is facing a massive shake up with more and more homes slowly being moved away from ageing copper wires and switching to faster and more reliable fibre cables. Millions have already been transferred over to this latest technology, and now another 960,000 properties face the change in one of the biggest-ever updates.
BT’s Openreach, which installs infrastructure across the UK, has just confirmed that a ‘record number’ of homes and businesses will be switched away from copper in a bid to improve internet access. In fact, Openreach says that a total of 163 new exchange locations face a halt to the sale of traditional copper-based phone and broadband services. This, the company says, is to encourage more people to upgrade to new digital services over an ultrafast Full Fibre connection
Although there are benefits of moving to Full Fibre – such as web speeds in excess of 700Mbps – it does also means that ageing landlines will also no longer work with people needing to use digital voice technology instead. This service does bring new features and clearer calls but it does need an internet connection to work.
That has caused some concern especially for elderly residents who might not be ready for the switch.
BT and other firms are working to address the issue of losing copper connections with it now hoped that the majority of UK homes will be moved to Digital Voice by 2027.
It’s also worth noting that Openreach says 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 becomes available.
Speaking about the changes, James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, said: “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.
“The stop sell programme is a critical part of ensuring that the UK’s communication infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the future.
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.”
You can see what speeds are available in your street via the Openreach postcode checker – we’ve also got the full list of new locations below.
Calthorpe (BM/CAL) • Brentwood (BNJ) • Bulwell (BSY) • Erskine (GW/ERS) • Horsham (HMC)
East Grinstead (EG) • Selkirk (SXJ) • Ashford (AD) • Truro (TO) • Horseley Fields (HYF)
Stannington (XNG) • St Asaph (SAF) • Sudbrooke Park (SPK) • Helmsley (HHN) • Pontybodkin (PEH)
Abbots Bromley (ABX) • Cheriton (CTQ) • Southwater (XWR) • Baldslow (JCK) • Beccles (BDP)
Leiston (LDN) • Seend (SUD) • Llanidloes (LLE) • Honiton (HKW) • Maindee (MDE) • Hereford (HR)
Settle (SFT) • Axminster (AX) • Trefnant (TEU) • Burghill (BHL) • Barming (BGO) • Bexhill (BLC)
Chirk (CHN) • Walney (WAL) • St Budeaux (SBX) • Colne (CKY) • Bangor (BG) • Culverhouse (CUV)
Bacup (BAC) • Retford (RF) • Bridgwater (BNU) • Thornley (TCN) • Gatley (MR/GAT) • Morriston (MLZ)
Port Talbot (PTB) • Caldicot (CIT) • Briton Ferry (BPG) • Nefyn (NBB) • Skewen (SKU) • Burley In Wharfedale (BTP)
Stranraer (SXW) • Upwey (UW) • Preston (PQP) • Brynmawr (BSE) • Glossop (GBB) • Cleethorpes (CJF)
Ruabon (RB) • Market Weighton (MGG) • Ogmore Valley (OAG) • Yaxley (YY) • Killingholme (KHF)
Overseal (OBR) • Hellifield (HFQ) • Crowle (CPL)Crowle • Annaghmore (ANM) • Armagh • Fairbourne (FBN)
Llangoed (LGQ) • Canewdon (ZJC) • Peterston-Super-Ely (PRU) • Llangarron (LUF) • Tanworth In Arden (TWT)
Eastoft (ETF) • Wick (WJK) • Great Alne (GTZ) • Staunton Court (SZN) • Ferryside (FBZ) • Peterchurch (PCU)
Berriew (BFM) • Llanbedr (LNB) • Lamphey (LHY) • Llithfaen (LLN) • Dinas Cross (DCP)
Gargunnock (GFO) • Fionnphort (FNP) • Kinoulton (KOL) • Crawford (ZCF) • Leadhills (LRI)
Llanuwchllyn (LXL) • Llanrhaeadr (LRU) • Cannings (ANS) • Thurlaston (TLQ) • Bodfari (QOD)
Crailing (ZIT) • Dunham On Trent (DUA) • Taddington (TDG) • Carsington (ZRI) • Beddgelert (BJG)
Llandderfel (LTL) • Luing (LIG) • Whalton (WZO) • New Radnor (NRV) • Broadhaven (QHV)
Milland (OLL) • Blyth (BJN) • Benington (QQX) • Samlesbury (SMB) • Camptown (ZMA)
Teviotdale (TVT) • Pipegate (PPA) • Rousay (RSY) • Jura (JU) • Grantshouse (GRO) • Pendine (PEV)
Longformacus (LXF) • Cappercleuch (CPZ) • Burnsall (QBS) •West Sandwick (WXS)
West Sandwick • Inversnaid (IND) • Townhead (TND) • Hunslet • Warrington • Mansfield • Nuneaton • Denton Burn • Laisterdyke