A significant telecom and broadband transition is underway in the UK, affecting over 1.5 million households that will no longer have the option to utilize outdated copper technology. Openreach, a major infrastructure provider, has announced a “Stop Sell” alert in more than 160 areas. This alert mandates that customers of service providers like BT, Sky, TalkTalk, and Plusnet must switch to the latest fiber technology for new subscriptions and contract renewals.
The transition to Full Fibre technology will not involve disconnection of landlines but will shift them to digital voice calls using internet connectivity instead of traditional copper wiring. The advantages of Full Fibre include enhanced call quality, advanced features, and significantly faster broadband speeds, with a potential increase from 70Mbps to 1,000Mbps by switching from copper to fiber.
To check if Full Fibre is available in your area, you can use the Openreach postcode checker tool. The “Stop Sell” initiative will be enforced in various locations across the UK, including Birmingham, Coventry, Norwich, Liverpool, Sheffield, and many others.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, emphasized the importance of transitioning to digital infrastructure, stating that Full Fibre technology will play a crucial role in supporting the country’s economy, public services, businesses, and daily activities. Currently, 18 million premises have access to Full Fibre, with 6.5 million already utilizing the service. The stop sell program aims to ensure the readiness of the UK’s communication infrastructure for future demands.
