UK landline warning (Image: GETTY)
Ageing copper cables may have been keeping the UK connected for over 100 years but its days are numbered. A vast amount of UK and now it seems a record number are about to be forced over to this new technology.
BT’s Openreach, which supplies broadband and phone infrastructure across the UK, has just confirmed that it plans to halt the sale of traditional copper to a record number of 163 new exchange locations, covering more than 960k premises across the UK.
Once enforced, it will mean those wanting to sign up for contracts with the likes of BT, Sky and Vodafone will have to move to Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology.
Although losing the old-fashioned landline may sound scary, it does have some benefits, including clearer digital voice calls via something called VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).
It also means much faster broadband access, with FTTP able to whizz the web into properties at speeds in excess of 700Mbps – that’s compared to copper, which can only muster around 70Mbps.
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 – 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
There has, of course, been some concern about switching off old copper wires as it could leave older and vulnerable people without a way of communicating. If the power goes off, VOIP calls can stop working and if people don’t have mobile phones or a strong signal they won’t be able to call for help. There are some older UK residents who also don’t want broadband and that’s something no longer possible if they want to make calls via the internet.
The UK government recently stepped in to make sure suppliers will keep all users connected with ministers saying the new agreement with telecoms firms will better protect those using personal alarms, known as telecare, which offer remote support to elderly, disabled, and vulnerable people – with many located in rural and isolated areas.