Openreach has announced plans to stop selling legacy analogue services in more than 100 locations across the UK as it focuses on providing customers with full-fibre connections.
Ultrafast service (including full-fibre FTTP) and Gfast technology will be available to more than 75 percent of homes in these locations by June 2021, with Openreach deciding that it makes no sense to keep old and new networks running side-by-side. This will be a rolling programme, with more locations to be announced in the coming years.
The 'All-IP' programme has several phases. In June 2020, Openreach will give 12-months' notice that it will no longer sell copper-based products in 118 exchange areas (excluding Salisbury) from June 2021. The stop-sell will take effect in Salisbury in December 2020. By September 2023, Openreach plans to stop selling products reliant on the PSTN: followed by the withdrawal of all products reliant on the PSTN by December 2025. Over the next five years, it will migrate 16 million traditional lines onto new digital services.
