Openreach name next 112 UK areas for copper to full fibre switch – tranche 26
Openreach (BT) has today published the next batch of 112 exchanges (Tranche 26) under their “FTTP Priority Exchange” stop sell scheme – reflecting a further 619,724 premises. This reflects areas where over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre lines and will thus stop selling copper based legacy phone and broadband products (i.e. FTTP becomes the only product option, where available).
Currently, there are two schemes for moving away from old copper lines and services, which can sometimes cross over a bit. The first starts with the gradual migration of traditional legacy voice (PSTN / WLR) services to digital all-IP technologies (e.g. SOGEA), which is due to complete by 31st January 2027 and is occurring on both copper and full fibre products (i.e. ISPs are introducing digital voice / VoIP services). The national “stop sell” on legacy phone services began on 5th September 2023 (here).
The second “FTTP Priority Exchange” programme involves the ongoing rollout of gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) lines – using light signals via optical fibre instead of electrical signals via slow copper lines. Only after this second programme has largely completed (75%+ FTTP coverage) in an exchange area can you really start to completely switch-off copper-based products, which will come later as you have to allow lots of time for natural customer migrations.
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Between the scrapping of legacy phone services, the full fibre rollout and the gradual switch away from copper lines themselves, this process will take several years in each area to complete, and the pace will vary (i.e. some areas have better coverage of Openreach’s full fibre lines than others). Just to be clear, though, premises that can’t yet get FTTP will continue to be served by copper-based broadband products.
112 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 26)
In this programme, the migration process away from legacy services starts with a “no move back” policy (i.e. no going back to copper) for premises connected with FTTP, which is followed by a “stop-sell” of copper services to new customers (12-months of notice is given before this starts and that is what today’s list represents). This stage is then followed by a final “withdrawal” phase, but that comes later.
The stop sell is applied at premises level, so it shouldn’t impact you if you don’t yet have access to FTTP, although edge-case conflicts may still occur due to rare quirks of network availability. The 112 exchanges being confirmed today will take the total number of notified exchange stop sells, including trial sites, to 2,325. The stop sell in today’s list will become effective in roughly 12-months time on 4th November 2027.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, said:
“Our stop sell programme is a key step in accelerating the UK’s move to a full fibre future. As ageing copper networks become less able to meet modern communications needs, our focus is on helping customers move to faster, more reliable digital technologies.”
Retiring legacy copper services where fibre is widely available will support the industry-wide migration to modern networks, reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining old and new infrastructure side by side, and help ensure customers are ready for the closure of the PSTN in less than four months’ time, when everyone will need a digital phone service.”
The total number of UK premises covered by Openreach’s stop-sell rules is now around 16.4 million (up by 619,724 premises in this update).
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The operator also has a Stop Sells Page on their website, which makes it easy to see all the planned changes. Otherwise, the following list is tentative, so changes and delays will occur (exchanges can and are often shifted around into different tranches).
112 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 26
| Exchange Name | Exchange Location | Exchange Code | Order restriction implementation Date |
| Abercrave (AAV) | Abercrave | SWAAV | 04-Nov-27 |
| Almondsbury (ACW) | Filton | SSALM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Ambergate | Crich | EMAMBER | 04-Nov-27 |
| Axbridge (AHB) | Lower Weare | SSAXB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bancyfelin (QKL) | Bancyfelin | SWQKL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bangor-On-Dee (BBA) | Wrexham | WNBOD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Barcombe (QBC) | Barcombe Cross | SDBRCMB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Belgrave (LEX) | Leicester | EMBELGR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Biggar (BVS) | Biggar | WSBIG | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bilston | Bilston | CMBIL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bingham | Bingham | EMBINGH | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bishampton (JIS) | Pinvin | WMBIS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bishops Lydeard (BHO) | Cotford St Luke | WWBLYD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Brampton (BMO) | Brampton (Carlisle) | LCBMO | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bridgeton | Glasgow | WSBRI | 04-Nov-27 |
| Bromesberrow (JRB) | Redmarley D’Abitot | WNBRB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Castleton (CTE) | Newport (Newport) | SWCTE | 04-Nov-27 |
| Chaddesley Corbett (CYC) | Kidderminster | WMCHA | 04-Nov-27 |
| Chelford (CFX) | Chelford | MRCHL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Cleobury Mortimer (CJH) | Cleobury Mortimer | WMCBM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Coldstream (CSM) | Coldstream | ESCSR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Colmonell (CMU) | Colmonell | WSCOM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Cooden (LPZ) | Bexhill | NDCOO | 04-Nov-27 |
| Crosswood (ZSW) | Aberystwyth | WNCRD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Crowland (CPJ) | Crowland | EMCROWL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Dechmont | Dechmont | ESDEC | 04-Nov-27 |
| Dinas Mawddwy (DIM) | Dinas Mawddwy | WNDM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Doddington (DDM) | Wimblington | EMDODDI | 04-Nov-27 |
| Downend (DWD) | Bristol | SSDOW | 04-Nov-27 |
| Dunsfold (DSF) | Godalming | THDF | 04-Nov-27 |
| Earlston (EFG) | Earlston | ESEAR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Eastbourne | Eastbourne | SDESTBR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Elmswell (EDM) | Elmswell | EAEMS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Exmouth (EEZ) | Exmouth | WWEXMO | 04-Nov-27 |
| Fazeley (FZY) | Tamworth | EMFAZEL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Fintry (FQT) | Fintry | WSFIN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Fordham Cambs (FDA) | Fordham (East Cambridgeshire) | EAFDM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Forest Green (FGE) | Walliswood | THFTG | 04-Nov-27 |
| Fownhope (FHE) | Fownhope | WNFOW | 04-Nov-27 |
| Gatehouse Of Fleet (GFM) | Gatehouse of Fleet | WSGAT | 04-Nov-27 |
| Glenlyon (GLO) | Tomnacroich | ESGLL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Greatford (GTF) | Baston | EMGRTFO | 04-Nov-27 |
| Guestling (HS/GL) | Hastings | NDGUE | 04-Nov-27 |
| Hailsham (HAN) | Hailsham | SDHLSHM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Hallow (HXL) | Hallow | WMHAL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Halton On Lune | Halton | LCHOL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Harvington (HRT) | Harvington | WMHAV | 04-Nov-27 |
| Hastings (HS) | Hastings | NDHAS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Hawkhurst (HFS) | Hawkhurst | NDHAK | 04-Nov-27 |
| Henbury | Bristol | SSHEN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Highley (HGJ) | Highley | CMHIG | 04-Nov-27 |
| Hoyland | Hoyland | SLHY | 04-Nov-27 |
| Huntly (HPJ) | Huntly | NSHUN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Innerleithen (IBG) | Innerleithen | ESINN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Ipplepen (IPN) | Ipplepen | WWIPPL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Isleham (ISH) | Soham | EAISL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Johnston (JOH) | Johnston | SWJOH | 04-Nov-27 |
| Kilkhampton (KBF) | Kilkhampton | WWKILK | 04-Nov-27 |
| Kingswinford | Kingswinford | CMKWD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Kinlet (KNE) | Coppicegate | WMKLT | 04-Nov-27 |
| Kirkby Stephen (KDF) | Kirkby Stephen | LCKST | 04-Nov-27 |
| Kirkcaldy / Beveridge | Kirkcaldy | ESKIR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Lampeter (LAK) | Lampeter | SWLAK | 04-Nov-27 |
| Laugharne (LAS) | Laugharne | SWLAS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Leire (URE) | Leire | EMLERRE | 04-Nov-27 |
| Long Buckby (LMK) | Long Buckby | EMLNGBU | 04-Nov-27 |
| Longhope (LTD) | Longhope | NSLHP | 04-Nov-27 |
| Market Deeping (MFW) | Market Deeping | EMMKDEE | 04-Nov-27 |
| Merrylee | Glasgow | WSMER | 04-Nov-27 |
| Monmouth (MU) | Monmouth | SWMU | 04-Nov-27 |
| Morton Bourne (MRT) | Morton (South Kesteven) | EMMRTON | 04-Nov-27 |
| Morville (MVE) | Bridgnorth | CMMOR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Mosborough | Sheffield | SLMOS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Muirkirk (MOR) | Muirkirk | WSMUI | 04-Nov-27 |
| Newport On Tay (NHW) | Newport-on-Tay | ESNPT | 04-Nov-27 |
| North Rode (NRQ) | Bosley | MRNRD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Ombersley (OMB) | Droitwich | WMOMB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Ottery St Mary (OBL) | Ottery St Mary | WWOSMY | 04-Nov-27 |
| Oughtibridge | Oughtibridge | SLOB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Overton-On-Dee (OBU) | Overton (Wrexham) | WNOOD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Peasmarsh (PMH) | Peasmarsh (Rother) | NDPEA | 04-Nov-27 |
| Pendleton | Greater Manchester – Salford | MRPEN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Pennant (PBF) | Llangynog | WNPNN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Pontyberem (PTM) | Pontyberem | SWPTM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Rectory | Sutton Coldfield | CMREC | 04-Nov-27 |
| Redruth (RCE) | Redruth | WWREDR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Rhiw (RIW) | Rhiw | WNRIW | 04-Nov-27 |
| Rhosneigr (RNR) | Rhosneigr | WNRNR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Rushey Green | Greater London – Lewisham | LSRUS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Scarisbrick (XIX) | Bescar | LCSCA | 04-Nov-27 |
| Shepherdswell (SHP) | Eythorne | NDSHP | 04-Nov-27 |
| South Molton (SNH) | South Molton | WWSMOL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Spencers Wood | Reading | THSPD | 04-Nov-27 |
| Spilsby (XED) | Spilsby | EMSPLSB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Standon Rock (STB) | Stafford | WMSRK | 04-Nov-27 |
| Stanstead Abbotts (SRG) | St Margarets | EASAB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Stepps | Stepps | WSSTE | 04-Nov-27 |
| Sutton St Nicholas (XIC) | Sutton St Nicholas | WNSSN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Swanley (L/SJ) | Swanley | LSSWA | 04-Nov-27 |
| Talybont (TYB) | Tal-y-bont (Ceredigion) | WNTAL | 04-Nov-27 |
| Turton | Edgworth | LCTUR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Upper Sapey (UPY) | Great Witley | WMUPS | 04-Nov-27 |
| Upton Snodsbury (USY) | Crowle (Wychavon) | WMUSN | 04-Nov-27 |
| Walthamstow | Greater London – Waltham Forest | LNWTH | 04-Nov-27 |
| Waunfawr (WZF) | Waunfawr | WNWA | 04-Nov-27 |
| Whitmore (WHW) | Baldwin’s Gate | WMWTM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Wichenford (WXF) | Martley | WMWIC | 04-Nov-27 |
| Willingham (WJE) | Willingham | EAWLM | 04-Nov-27 |
| Winkfield Row | North Ascot | THWR | 04-Nov-27 |
| Witney (WLI) | Witney | SMWI | 04-Nov-27 |
| Woodbridge (WND) | Woodbridge | EAWDB | 04-Nov-27 |
| Worplesdon (WPD) | Guildford | THWP | 04-Nov-27 |
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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inb4 “When will my exchange be done?”
It will be done when it is done in a lot of cases
When will 10gig be done? (cant win lol!)
Well I wouldn’t mind 10Gbps either…
But in reality not in a rush for that
Yup, stop sell in our village for last several years here yet still on ADSL as too hard to figure out how to get fibre under a railway bridge. SOGEA soon with virtual BT monopoly. They are hoping we will give up the line and move to starlink or something and they can stop providing a rural line. Which we probably will have to. They don’t mention that in the digital switch off plans…
OR full fibre target is upto 30million premises, currently there are 33.5million premises, so yes sadly millions wont be serviced by OR fttp. guessing thats why EE are going to do a partnership kind of deal with starlink
Interacting with the railway instantly adds considerable cost, and if it’s just to reach a few houses in a rural area (already expensive) then it’s hardly surprising that you’re not a priority.
As Graham says, this is why EE are preparing to launch their own version of Starlink for places deemed too difficult or expensive to serve. Openreach has never promised that all premises in a stop sell area will get FTTP.
Plenty of ISPs continue to sell SOGEA services.
In our village the newer properties have underground cabling whereas older properties have overhead cabling. Open reach now offer FTTP to the older properties but still FTTC for us with underground cabling. Prices do not reflect the fact that we can’t get super fast broadband. So being environmentally friendly by not having overhead cables and poles we are now “the poor relations” when super fast broadband is concerned. Obviously Open reach/BT have done the easy fix on overhead cabling customers but the more tricky underground work is either too much trouble or too costly. We do have two other companies that have installed underground infrastructure to every property and BT wonder why they are losing customers !!!!
Underground wiring is not “environmentally friendly” by how most people would define it. You presumably mean it’s aesthetically better.
Other companies have decided they can do it at enormous cost (backed by debt), whereas the commercially viable company wasn’t ready to commit yet.
The business case is even poorer if two companies are already available – why compete when they’ve got guaranteed takeup elsewhere. BT aren’t losing customers at a national level, they actually gained slightly. They’re probably not having crisis meetings about losing a few customers in your road.
Not true – my street was partial DiG copper.
Thankfully Openreach deployed because nexfibre did. Nothing like competition, eh?
@cog
theres 4 closes here ( around 25 houses per close ) all are DIG . must cost a fortune to supply, mine was done a few months back ie ordered, surveyed by openreach on easter sunday, dig team and then mj quinns to do outside+outside work. theyve now stopped accepting orders on the rest of the close ( guessing temporarily ), after 4 got done and all that for each order! 1 of the digs took 3 dig visits!
Once the PSTN switch-off date has been achieved in January, would we not expect to see changes to BT/Openreach’s exchange exit policy and procedures?
apart from the 2 other test exchanges ( was 3 in total, 1 has closed a year back ) . theres around 100 due to close before 2030, which as u say im guessing openreach can now start to focus more on that ie rather than pstn+exchange closure. no point in closing an exchange and moving the pstn wires+equipment ( which of course wont need to move wires+equipment for pstn as it will be gone etc )
@graham:
There is scope for a more fundamental reform of the process than that once the PSTN has been closed down at the end of next January.
Openreach has been working on the first batch of exchanges already because of the financial penalties if theymiss thetarget dates.
Openreach will not be recovering the copper wiring; that has already been sold off.
Got tired of waiting and moved to another provider, and saved a packet.
These rollout lists are a waste of time. The rollout of fibre in the UK has been abysmal. Since moving to a new build in a rural location 7 miles from the exchange the fastest connection I could ever get was 19mb.
This progress was over an 18 year period.
I dumped my landline and got Starlink and now have 300+ for about £10 more than I was paying BT.
They should have offered satellite or 5g as an option years ago. But there is more profit in seeking slow services for higher prices.
Places like South Korea must look and laugh at our infrastructure.
So last century to provide fixed lines to a property when even kids have a mobile for direct person to person calls.
Mobile network home broadband further makes FTTP irrelevant as 4G is enough to stream video, and 5G SA is due in the next few years making FTTP investment a short term proposition at best.
The window of opportunity for fixed line infrastructure was a decade ago to get returns on investment yet government and regulator were much too slow. No accountability for that incompetence..
But where there are excess profits to be made from middle class neighbourhoods, those fibre lines get installed as if Xmas was next week, withover provision by multiple installers in the same locations and the technical appropriateness is ignored . . AKA the distortion to infrastructure policy by short-term commercialism. . . lots of new jobs for middle class ol’ boys as CEOs of here today gone tomorrow fibre outfits . that was the real priority, whilst everbody else gets the cold comfort of austerity.
A cobbled together patchwork quilt of privatised —-, thanks to the the policy of successive governments since the 1990s. The priority of provision for FTTP installation depending entirely on maintenance of profit levels rather than serving the public.
Same as all the utilities and public provision – turned to garbage.