Openreach is continuing its aggressive push toward a full-fiber future, announcing that another 112 exchange areas will soon face restrictions on the sale of legacy copper-based services. This latest expansion is part of the company's broader strategy to decommission aging infrastructure in favor of its growing Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network.
Expanding the Full Fiber Footprint
With the addition of these 112 locations, the total number of exchange areas under copper sales restrictions has reached 1,572. This shift now impacts approximately 15.4 million premises, marking a significant milestone in the UK's digital transformation. The policy prevents service providers from selling new copper-based products in areas where full fiber is widely available, encouraging a total transition to more reliable, high-speed connectivity.
The move is designed to streamline maintenance and improve network performance. By focusing resources on a single, modern infrastructure, Openreach aims to provide more consistent speeds and lower latency for residential and business customers alike. The rollout continues to follow a phased approach, giving local providers and consumers time to prepare for the eventual total switch-off of the legacy copper network.
