Openreach, the BT Group company which manages the UK’s largest phone and broadband network, has announced a further 84 exchanges across the UK where it’ll stop selling legacy copper services.
The network is used by a host of providers, including BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone, to provide internet and phone products to their end users.
Openreach is currently rolling out a new full-fibre network across the UK and is ceasing to accept new orders for copper-based services in those exchange areas where 75% of premises have access to fibre.
Households and businesses in areas subject to these ‘stop sell’ notices must take a fibre-based service whenever they want to take out a new contract, switch product or upgrade their existing package.
By the summer, these rules will apply to more than 700 exchanges, covering around six million premises.
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.
“Already, our Full Fibre network is available to close to 14 million homes and businesses, with more than 4 million premises currently taking a service.
“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.”
People can visit Openreach’s postcode checker to see if they can already order a full fibre service or alternatively check by contacting their service provider.
Latest Locations:
| EXCHANGE NAME | EXCHANGE LOCATION |
| Aberdeen Portlethen (PIP) | Portlethen |
| Aberdeen West | Aberdeen |
| Addingham | Addingham |
| Alderminster | Alderminster |
| Appleton Roebuck | Appleton Roebuck |
| Ashington (AIT) | Ashington (Northumberland) |
| Aspull (ASP) | Greater Manchester – Wigan |
| Atherton (ATH) | Greater Manchester – Wigan |
| Attercliffe (SF/AC) | Sheffield |
| Barking | Greater London – Barking and Dagenham |
| Barnby Dun | Doncaster |
| Bishop Auckland | Bishop Auckland |
| Bridgend | Bridgend |
| Burnham-On-Sea | Burnham-on-Sea |
| Busby (GW/BUS) | Glasgow |
| Buxton | Buxton (High Peak) |
| Carlisle | Carlisle |
| Chatham Dock (CH/DY) | Gillingham (Kent) |
| Chesterfield (CD) | Chesterfield |
| Clynnogfawr | Trefor |
| Coalville (CJY) | Coalville |
| Cowers Lane | Heage |
| Dowsby | Rippingale |
| Dromara | Saintfield |
| Dunchurch (DEY) | Rugby |
| East (MR/EAS) | Greater Manchester – Manchester |
| Evington (LXV) | Leicester |
| Exeter Castle | Exeter |
| Flamborough | Flamborough |
| Foxhall | Ispwich |
| Grimsby | Grimsby |
| Hadleigh Essex (HVL) | Rayleigh |
| Heath Hayes (HYY) | Cannock |
| Houghton Le Spring (HMI) | Houghton-le-Spring |
| Huddersfield (HF) | Huddersfield |
| Ilkeston (II) | Ilkeston |
| Ilkley | Ilkley |
| Kidsgrove | Kidsgrove |
| Kingskerswell | Kingskerswell |
| Knaresborough (KB) | Knaresborough |
| Leagrave (LGV) | Luton |
| Leven | Leven |
| Lindfield (LEL) | Haywards Heath |
| Llanbrynmair | Llanbrynmair |
| Llanrumney | Cardiff |
| Lofthouse Gate (UOG) | Wakefield |
| Mareham Le Fen | Mareham le Fen |
| Medway | Chatham |
| Moore | Moore |
| Mossley (MMF) | Greater Manchester – Tameside |
| Motherwell (MOO) | Motherwell |
| New Cross | Greater London – Southwark |
| New Mills | New Mills |
| North Cave | South Cave |
| North Kelsey | North Kelsey |
| Oldham | Greater Manchester – Oldham |
| Penistone | Penistone |
| Pontardawe | Pontardawe |
| Raunds (RBC) | Raunds |
| Rearsby (RBX) | Rearsby |
| Richill | Craigavon |
| Ross On Wye | Ross-on-Wye |
| Rotherfield | Rotherfield |
| Roxwell | Chelmsford |
| Rugby | Rugby |
| Scotter | Scotter |
| Scunthorpe | Scunthorpe |
| Sherburn Hill | Sherburn (County Durham) |
| Skegness | Skegness |
| Solihull (BM/SOL) | Solihull |
| South Shore | Blackpool |
| Southend (SMU) | Southend-on-Sea |
| Stotfold (XTO) | Stotfold |
| Stratford on Avon | Stratford-upon-Avon |
| Templepatrick | Antrim |
| Thurnby (TBV) | Leicester |
| Torquay | Torquay |
| Tregynon | Tregynon |
| Ulgham | Ellington (Northumberland) |
| Undercliffe (QDQ) | Bradford |
| Upminster (L/UP) | Greater London – Havering |
| Waltham On The Wolds | Waltham on the Wolds |
| Wickersley | Rotherham |
| Withdean | Brighton and Hove |