As part of the UK’s major plans to dismantle the network of copper phone lines for landline calls and home broadband that have connected the UK for the last century, BT-owned Openreach has identified the next 94 locations across the UK that will see a switch-off. These exchanges will impact around just under 960,000 premises across the UK, it has been reported.

The move forms part of Openreach’s “stop sell” order, which will see the 94 areas transitioned away from copper-based landlines or broadband services over the next 12 months, towards upgraded next-generation full-fibre services. Once upgraded, users will need to switch to a broadband-powered phone, utilising Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to connect calls – a technology already employed by apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, or Messenger. Active since 1876, the copper-based technology will be switched off once three-quarters of the premises have been upgraded. 

The full-fibre upgrade will offer users several new features, including the ability to call multiple people at the same time, better call quality, the ability to block numbers and incoming spam prevention. However, unlike traditional landlines, which continue to work during power cuts as they draw power from the exchange, VoIP systems will not work without a backup power bank. Many providers, including BT, Virgin Media and TalkTalk, refer to this service as “Digital Voice”, but this varies between companies. 

According to current plans, the vast majority of the UK will have switched to this technology by the end of January 2027 – a date 13 months later than originally projected last year.

Several major areas, including Blackpool, Portsmouth, Chester and Birmingham, are among the locations set to make the change in the next 12 months, as well as smaller communities in all four nations of the UK, including Carluke in Scotland, Botwnnog in Wales, Newtownstewart in Tyrone, Northern Ireland and Coggeshall in England.

Openreach Managed Customer Migrations Director, James Lilley, said: “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.”

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