The transition in the UK from outdated copper phone and broadband lines to faster and more reliable full fibre technology is rapidly gaining momentum.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 recently announced that 1.2 million properties will be impacted by the “Stop Sell” alerts, with 132 new locations included in the list. This initiative restricts internet service providers, such as BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone, from offering traditional copper-based services in areas where full fibre is accessible.
New contracts or renewals will now require customers to shift to fibre broadband, including a transition from traditional landlines to Digital Voice, which operates calls over an internet connection for improved quality and features like spam call blocking and mobile phone call diversion.
Although concerns have been raised by some older and vulnerable customers about the change, Digital Voice provides clearer call quality and enhanced functionalities. Openreach assured that customers without access to full fibre will not be affected and can continue using their current copper-based services until fibre infrastructure is available in their vicinity.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, emphasized the importance of the stop sell program in advancing the UK towards a modern full fibre future. By phasing out legacy copper services where fibre is prevalent, the transition to faster and more reliable digital infrastructure is facilitated, reducing operational costs and supporting the industry-wide shift before the complete shutdown of the old PSTN phone network in just over a year.
To determine the available services in your area, you can utilize the Openreach postcode checker to confirm the availability of full fibre. Additionally, a list of locations newly affected by Stop Sell alerts includes a range of areas across the UK.
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