Over 1.5 million households are set to lose access to traditional copper technology as a major telecom and broadband shift unfolds in the UK. BT’s Openreach, the infrastructure provider for the entire country, has announced a significant update.
The company has initiated a “Stop Sell” notification in more than 160 areas, indicating that telecommunications providers such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Plusnet will soon be required to transition new customers and those renewing contracts to advanced fiber technology.
According to Openreach, the “Stop Sell” alert is activated when at least 75% of properties connected to a specific exchange can access ultrafast Full Fibre. As a result, customers looking to switch, upgrade, or adjust their broadband or phone services will need to opt for a new digital service on the latest Full Fibre network.
While existing landlines will not be disconnected, they will be migrated to digital voice calls utilizing internet connectivity instead of traditional copper wiring to maintain communication.
The advantages of Full Fibre connectivity include enhanced call quality, additional features, and notably faster broadband speeds. Transitioning from copper wires, which can manage downloads around 70Mbps, to fiber technology can boost speeds up to 1,000Mbps.
To check for Full Fibre availability in your area, you can utilize the Openreach postcode checker tool.
Here is a list of locations where the Stop Sell policy will soon be enforced:
Nuneaton • Birmingham • Wolverhampton • Shustoke • Fen End • Lichfield • Coventry • Clacton-on-Sea • Canvey Island • Ware • Hertford • Colchester • Lakenheath • Norwich • Hemsby • Ipswich • Nottingham • Birstall • Broughton (Kettering) • Northampton (Northamptonshire) • Parwich • Peterborough • Shirebrook • Surfleet Seas End • Tamworth • Whittlesey • Wymondham (Melton) • Wisbech • Armadale • Abbey St Bathans • Avonbridge • Dundee • Forfar • Rosyth • Greater Manchester – Wigan • Southport • Thornton (Wyre) • Preston (Lancashire) • Greater Manchester – Rochdale • Greater London – Redbridge • South Ockendon • St Albans • Woking • Swanscombe • Greater London – Merton • Redhill (Surrey) • Greater London – Greenwich • Warrington • Liverpool • Greater London – Harrow • Greater London – Barnet • Greater Manchester – Tameside • Greater Manchester – Manchester • Wilsden • Hemingbrough • Howden • Halifax • Newington • Snodland • Margate • Ditton • Bowburn • Durham • Melsonby • Saltburn-by-the-Sea • Sunderland • Whitburn • Banff • Baltasound • Carrbridge • Dishes • Forres • Peterhead • Clivocast • Gosport • Peacehaven • Polegate • Seaford • Sheffield • Bentley (Doncaster) • Kiveton Park • Louth • Lincoln • Keelby • North Scarle • Dunstable • Long Compton • Broad Hinton • Calne • Bristol • Lacock • Pill • Yatton • Amesbury • Ludgershall (Wiltshire) • Tidworth • Weymouth • Ammanford • St Ishmael’s • Haverfordwest • Llanthony • Cardiff • Porthcawl • Newport (Newport) • Tonypandy • Treorchy • Llangybi • Reading • Badsey • Ipstones • Stoke-on-Trent • Redditch • Aberystwyth • Malltraeth • Caerwys • Castle Caereinion • Waverton • Chester • Ellesmere • Llan Ffestiniog • Trevor • Harlech • Llandrillo • Llanwrtyd Wells • Gellilydan • Northop • Croesowallt • Valley • Telford • King’s Thorn ¶ Port Logan • Ballantrae • Lockerbie • Blantyre • Wishaw • Chapelknowe • Crossford • Greengairs Johnstonebridge • Kilwinning • Sanquhar • Maidens • Biggar • Bridestowe • Chard • Paignton • Crediton • Langtree • St Stephen • St Blazey • Silverton • South Petherton • Yeovil
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, commented on the developments, stating, “We’re transitioning to a digital era, and Openreach is facilitating this shift by deploying