Openreach is widening its copper broadband “stop sell” programme across the UK. The latest phase covers 112 more exchange areas. It will affect more than 619,000 premises.
The move pushes more homes and businesses toward Full Fibre broadband. It also marks another step away from legacy copper networks. These older lines have supported UK communications for decades.
Under the plan, providers will receive 12 months’ notice. This includes BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone. After that period, they cannot sell new copper-based services in affected areas.
The stop sell policy starts when fibre reaches 75% of premises served by an exchange. Once active, new orders must move to digital connections. This includes customers changing provider, upgrading, or modifying existing services.
For many users, the change should bring faster and more stable broadband. Fibre also supports higher capacity for streaming, cloud tools, and hybrid work. Businesses gain better foundations for digital services and resilient communications.
However, the transition needs careful handling. Some customers still rely on copper-based voice services. Others may face installation delays, property access issues, or confusion about available options.
By 5 November 2026, stop sell rules will apply at 1,663 exchanges. These exchanges cover around 16.4 million premises nationwide. That scale shows how quickly the UK fixed network is changing.
Openreach Managed Customer Migrations Director, James Lilley, said: “Our stop sell programme is a key step in accelerating the UK’s move to a full fibre future. As ageing copper networks become less able to meet modern communications needs, our focus is on helping customers move to faster, more reliable digital technologies.”
He added: “Retiring legacy copper services where fibre is widely available will support the industry-wide migration to modern networks, reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining old and new infrastructure side by side, and help ensure customers are ready for the closure of the PSTN in less than four months’ time, when everyone will need a digital phone service.”
The PSTN shutdown remains a major deadline for the sector. It means traditional phone lines will give way to digital voice services. For operators, this reduces network complexity and maintenance costs.
Still, the industry must support vulnerable users and smaller businesses. Clear communication will matter as much as network engineering. Customers need to know what changes, when it changes, and who helps them.
The copper retirement programme is not just a broadband upgrade. It is a national migration to digital connectivity. Its success will depend on coverage, customer readiness, and smooth coordination across providers.
