Openreach Expands Digital Network Rollout Across the UK

In a bid to meet the 2025 deadline for upgrading its network to digital services, Openreach, the UK's leading broadband provider, has unveiled plans to cease offering traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in 84 new exchange locations, covering over 880,000 premises nationwide.

Openreach's decision to transition to digital services stems from the increasing difficulty in maintaining legacy network infrastructure and the rising popularity of digital communication tools like Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing. The move is regarded as a significant shift comparable to the transition from analogue to digital technologies. By retiring analogue phone lines, Openreach aims to simplify its network infrastructure to better serve the needs of a digital society.

To achieve its goal, Openreach is in the process of migrating over 14 million traditional lines across the UK to digital services. This involves upgrading nearly nine million remaining analogue lines to new digital ones. The company activates its Stop Sell process when a majority (75%) of premises connected to a particular exchange can access full-fibre connections, prompting customers to switch to digital services over Openreach's full-fibre network.

Openreach has already implemented a UK-wide Stop Sell on sales of new analogue wholesale line rental and related broadband ISP products. By summer 2024, Stop Sell rules will be activated in over 700 exchanges, affecting around six million premises where full-fibre is available to three-quarters of businesses and homes. This transition affects various regions across the UK, including rural areas, conurbations, and major cities like Glasgow, Manchester, and Sheffield.

Why this matters: This upgrade will have a significant impact on the UK's economic competitiveness, as high-speed internet connectivity is essential for businesses to operate efficiently and innovatively. Additionally, the switch to digital phone lines will enable the widespread adoption of new technologies, such as smart homes and cities, and improve overall public services.

Openreach is in the process of upgrading nearly 9 million remaining analogue lines to new digital ones to meet the enhanced needs of an increasingly digital society. The "Stop Sell" process, which halts the sale of copper-based services, is triggered when 75% of premises connected to a particular exchange can get a full-fibre connection. By summer 2024, the Stop Sell rules will have been activated in over 700 exchanges, impacting around 6 million premises.

James Lilley, Openreach's managed customer migrations manager, emphasized the significance of this transformation, stating, "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 84 new exchange locations span all four nations of the UK, including rural communities, conurbations, and areas of large cities such as Glasgow, Manchester, and Sheffield. Openreach's full-fibre internet, dream is currently available to close to 14 million homes and businesses, with over 4 million premises already taking advantage of the service.

The UK government has set a deadline of December 31, 2025, for the complete switchover from the existing analogue telephone network to digital services. This means that most people in the UK will need to have a digital phone line before this date. Fibre providers like Trooli are offering competitive deals to encourage customers to make the switch, with installation costs often included in monthly fees.

The UK's upgrade to fibre-optic broadband and digital phone lines represents a significant step forward in modernizing the country's telecommunications infrastructure. With Openreach aiming to have its full-fibre network available to 25 million premises by December 2026, the UK is well on its way to ensuring that its citizens and businesses have access to the fast, reliable, and future-proof connectivity needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Key Takeaways:

• Openreach's decision to transition to digital services is driven by the need to adapt to changing market dynamics and ensure future readiness.
• The company's Stop Sell process aims to encourage customers to switch to digital services over its full-fibre network, marking a shift away from legacy copper-based services.
• By expanding its full-fibre network and discontinuing copper-based services, Openreach aims to meet the demands of an increasingly digital society and enhance operational efficiency.
• The transition to digital services is expected to have a significant impact on the telecommunications landscape in the UK, with implications for businesses, households, and public services.