Major broadband network is switching off long-running service in more than 160 locations across the UK

OPENREACH will soon stop the sale of traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in another 165 locations across the UK.

The move will affect BT, Sky, TalkTalk and Vodafone networks, and forms part of a countrywide shift to faster full-fibre services.

Reuters

The telecoms company, which is owned by BT, has given internet providers a year to stop selling older, copper-based services to new and existing customers.

Customers in the new 165 locations, from Truro to Baile Mòr, will have to switch to full-fibre plans from 14 February 2026.

These areas are just the latest to have received a “stop sell” order from Openreach, and join hundreds of other villages, towns and cities up and down the UK.

By mid-February, Openreach’s “stop sell” rule will have been activated in 852 areas, affecting more than seven million homes and businesses relying on copper cables.

Full-fibre broadband and phone cables are much faster, and require less boosting than copper ones do.

Roughly 20.7million UK homes now use full-fibre broadband, according to Ofcom’s 2024 report.

Openreach supplies full-fibre to about 17million of those.

The faster, full-fibre will reach more than 75 per cent of homes and businesses in these new locations.

Where full-fibre is not available, broadband customers can remain on their existing copper-based plan.

Openreach executive James Lilley said in a statement that the ability of copper cables to “support modern communications” is declining.

Which is why cable suppliers like Openreach and Virgin Media are pushing people towards newer, full-fibre cables.

“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,” Lilley added.

“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.

“It makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side.”

Full list of locations

Households can use the postcode checker on Openreach’s website to see if they can order a full-fibre service.

Alternatively, people can contact their service provider to check.