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Openreach Name Next 92 UK Areas for Copper to FTTP Switch – Tranche 17

Friday, Jul 19th, 2024 (2:00 pm) - Score 30,120
2023-Openreach-female-engineer-in-exchange

Openreach (BT) has today released the next batch of 92 exchanges (Tranche 17) in their “FTTP Priority Exchange Stop Sell” programme, which reflects areas where over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre and will thus stop selling copper based analogue phone and broadband products (i.e. FTTP becomes the only product option).

Currently, there are two schemes for moving away from old copper lines and services, which can sometimes criss-cross. The first starts with the gradual migration of traditional analogue voice (PSTN) 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 analogue phone services began on 5th September 2023 (here).

NOTE: Openreach’s full fibre currently covers around 14.5 million UK premises and they aim to reach 25 million (80%+) by Dec 2026, followed by an ambition for up to 30m by 2030.

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 time for natural customer migrations.

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Between the scrapping of analogue 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 full fibre than others). Naturally, premises that can’t yet get FTTP will continue to be served by copper-based broadband products.

NOTE: SOGEA (FTTC), SOTAP (ADSL2+) and SOGfast (G.fast) are all copper-based broadband-only products, where voice services can only be added as an optional digital IP / VoIP phone service (i.e. no analogue phones).

92 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 17)

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 (edge-case conflicts may still occur due to rare quirks of network availability).

The 92 exchanges announced today – covering at least 615,000 premises – takes the total number of exchange upgrades that have already been notified as part of the aforementioned process (including trial exchanges), or which are actively under “stop sell“, to 1096. The “stop sell” in the Tranche 17 areas will be introduced from July 2025.

James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, said:

“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.

Already, our full fibre network is available to more than 14 million homes and businesses, with more than 4 million premises currently taking a service. 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 as it makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side. As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future proofed technologies.”

By the end of the summer, these ‘stop sell’ rules will have been activated in more than 700 exchanges (excludes unactivated stop sells) – meaning around 6 million premises will be under active Stop Sell – i.e. premises where Full Fibre is available to a majority of premises & new copper products cannot be sold.

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NOTE: Openreach has around 5,600 exchanges. But hybrid fibre (FTTC, G.fast) and full fibre (FTTP) services are supplied via different exchanges (c.1,000 of that 5,600 total) and up to 4,600 will eventually close (after 2030) – see here, here, here and here.

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).

92 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 17

Exchange Name Exchange Location
Shenley Church End (XCH) Milton Keynes
Killingworth (KLT) Longbenton
Greenhill (SF/GL) Sheffield
Astley Bridge (EAY) Greater Manchester – Bolton
Prescot (LV/PRE) Prescot
Heckmondwike (HHJ) Liversedge
Toothill (THL) Swindon (Wiltshire)
Saughall(GSU) Saughall
Barrow On Humber(BCA) Barrow upon Humber
Blackwater(BLW) Sandhurst (Berkshire)
Kesgrave(KGF) Kesgrave
Stowmarket(STW) Stowmarket
Brandon(BMT) Brandon (West Suffolk)
Builth Wells(BSX) Builth Wells
Port Dinorwic(PES) Y Felinheli
Sittingbourne(SKD) Sittingbourne
Maesglas(MES) Newport (Newport)
Hethersett(HIF) Hethersett
Wymondham(WRA) Wymondham (South Norfolk)
Burgh Castle(JUQ) Belton (Great Yarmouth)
Faygate(FYG) Horsham
Goldthorpe(GTR) Thurnscoe
Gorseinon(GBY) Gorseinon
Llanymynech(LLV) Pant
Galashiels(GL) Galashiels
Sevington(SGT) Kingsnorth (Ashford)
Rye(RI) Rye
Newton Abbot(NEA) Newton Abbot
Camblesforth Uc(ZNX) Camblesforth
Wilberfoss(VFS) Wilberfoss
West Kilbride (WRB) West Kilbride
Kinross (KR) Kinross
Morpeth (MP) Morpeth
Gorleston (YGS) Gorleston-on-Sea
Kirkbymoorside(KCZ) Kirkbymoorside
Rasharkin(RKI) Antrim
Castlereagh(CTH) Down
Ilmington (IMN) Ilmington
New Abbey (NAB) New Abbey
Borgue (BGZ) Borgue
Kettleholm (KOM) Hoddomcross
Eastrington (EJD) Eastrington
Somerby (SOB) Somerby
Scalford (SLD) Harby
Knipton (KEC) Croxton Kerrial
Honington (HTN) Grantham
Bridge Of Gaur (QUR) Carie
Newdigate (NDE) Dorking
Weston (WGH) Weston (North Hertfordshire)
Kerry (KRY) Kerry
Yarrow (YRW) Yarrow
Bretton (JRF) West Bretton
Thwing (TWI) Burton Fleming
Mid Yell (MNU) Mid Yell
Bearsden (GW/BEA) Bearsden
Horbury (OBE) Ossett
Urmston (MR/URM) Greater Manchester – Trafford
Shrewsbury (SY) Shrewsbury
Harrogate (HG) Harrogate
Armley (LRY) Leeds
Waltham Cross (L/WX) Cheshunt
Sandy (SDT) Sandy
Newark (NBD) Newark-on-Trent
Worksop Mnr (WW) Worksop
Seacroft (SET) Leeds
Hornchurch (L/HC) Greater London – Havering
Hindley (HIN) Greater Manchester – Wigan
Portland(PLX) Weston (Dorset)
Kidderminster(KD) Kidderminster
Devonport(DV) Plymouth
Neath(NM) Neath
Davidson Mains (EH/DAV) Edinburgh
Rochford (REP) Rochford
Donaghmore(DIZ) Tyrone
Castlederg(CVC) Tyrone
Dervock(DVK) Antrim
Maghera(MOZ) Londonderry
Toomebridge(TIY) Antrim
Wolverton (WMV) Milton Keynes
Stony Stratford (STM) Milton Keynes
Kettering (KZ) Kettering
Taffs Well(TAT) Taff’s Well
Ynysowen(YYN) Merthyr Tydfil
Brecon(BNB) Brecon
New Southgate(L/ENT) Greater London – Barnet
Newington (EH/NEW) Edinburgh
Gortin(GRP) Tyrone
Beragh(BZD) Tyrone
Tulnacross(TNC) Tyrone
Draperstown(DJI) Londonderry
Stewartstown(SYP) Tyrone
Glenwherry(GQW) Antrim
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Mark-Jackson
By Mark Jackson
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 .
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38 Responses

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  1. Avatar photo Alastair Stevens says:

    And what a surprise, we’re not one of them. Because we’re a fibre desert! Half of a city of 130,000 still with zero fibre from any network. Yes, we have Virgin’s DOCSIS, but that’s not an equivalent (and so does the other half of the city, which has also had FTTP for a while now). I wouldn’t mind if someone – anyone – would at least give us a timescale, a ballpark, anything! Do we wait a year, two years, five years…?

    1. Avatar photo André says:

      I’m not sure anyone can give you a timescale when you haven’t actually mentioned where you are 😉

    2. Avatar photo Kev says:

      Even if you get a ballpark, they just miss it and keep moving out.

    3. Avatar photo GaryH says:

      Whenever it is, rest assured it will be before those like me, and apologies if im not overly supportive as you already have a good option with virgin and likely 5g ?

    4. Avatar photo Big Dave says:

      Openreach’s aim is to get to 85% by the end of 2026 and carry on building until 2030. It’s frustrating if you’re waiting but unfortunately someone is going to the one who gets connected on the last day. At the minute Openreach I think are still plucking the low hanging fruit to maximise their install rate. VMO2 intend all their DOCSIS with FTTP by the end of 2028.

    5. Avatar photo Chris Jones says:

      How long is a piece of string?
      It will depend upon a whole host of factors – BDUK management structure (just changed today), government finding the money (or losing it to other projects), etc.

    6. Avatar photo XGS says:

      He’s in the big of Gloucester CityFibre didn’t build to going by the, many, earlier comments.

      Openreach will build there. CityFibre may finish what they started at some point.

      FWIW my exchange isn’t on the lists either. I have 4 different FTTP networks. Doesn’t mean anything: all about Openreach coverage of the entire exchange area.

    7. Avatar photo Ian Williams says:

      If it’s anything like here, the answer is 18 months. That’s what we’re always told each time we ask. Full fibre would be available within 18 months when we moved in 6 years ago, and full fibre will be available in 18 months when I last enquired a few months ago. It’s a f*cking joke.

    8. Avatar photo Alex says:

      I love this idea that there’s “low hanging fruit” when it comes to building infrastructure.
      It’s all bloody hard and expensive.

  2. Avatar photo Ad47uk says:

    “We’re moving to a digital world
    We already have, but after the problems that have happened today, are we sure we want it?
    card terminals going belly up is happening more often, I know it was not just card terminals, but it makes me wonder if we should go back to cash.

    my city is not in that list.

    1. Avatar photo XGS says:

      Your salary is credited to your account electronically. To withdraw from it needs either an ATM or the teller at a bank using a computer. The digital systems being imperfect isn’t a reason to abandon them but to fix them. You are a huge fan of cash so, naturally, would hold the opinion you do.

    2. Avatar photo Cognizant says:

      I’ve been paid electronically via BACS for the past 23 years.

  3. Avatar photo Andrew Gardiner says:

    This is so frustrating. We were told we would get fttp in 2019. All our neighbouring roads have it but we’ve been missed out. The pole outside our house has signs warning overhead fibre. Why can’t Openreach just finish the job off in our area Blackwell of the Bromsgrove region?

    1. Avatar photo XGS says:

      Presumably you’re well outside their budgeted costs and they’ve no budget remaining to serve you.

      They’ll probably come back to you at some point.

    2. Avatar photo Fastman says:

      probably because you already have virgin — so why would openreach use there money to overbuild virgin media footprint

  4. Avatar photo Grummitt says:

    To get information out of anybody about fttp in my area is impossible. BT website checker said available from June 24 then it went to Sep 24 and now it just says not available. City fibre are no better, they managed to cause chaos in my village by digging roads up,laying cables etc, still no fttp and that was 2-1/2 years ago. Following the initial chaos its been a fairly constant flow of different contractors repairing,altering and generally fixing other contractor mistakes. Still no fttp. Both BT and City Fibre are treating switch on like a state secret,all isp companies are equally kept in the dark and just guessing when it MIGHT be available.

  5. Avatar photo DaveZ says:

    Still no sign for me either. We were in the very last tranche for FTTC. I’ve had a sneaking feeling for some time now that they’re following the same scheme for FTTP!

  6. Avatar photo TheMcLeish says:

    Bit knarked here because a lot of rural areas got the FTTP upgrades already – I’m still in a FTTC area and Im getting annoyed that where I live is not on the list.

    Checking the openreach scheduler and it says 2026 on it…now I’m normally a patient person but this is rediculous

  7. Avatar photo Mr C M Large says:

    I will be dead by the time we get fttp keeps getting put back and back. they say by the end of 2026 yar I don’t believe a word what openreach say with a forked tongue !!!!

  8. Avatar photo Colin says:

    I think we will be the last on the list it’s typical we are always forgotten I am in Peacehaven East Sussex

    1. Avatar photo FibreBubble says:

      Peacehaven has extensive newly built full fibre network from Virgin.

  9. Avatar photo Gerry Sweeney says:

    I got fed up waiting for Open reach to connect to my premises so I’ve gone with YouFibre for £29.99pm on a 1gb download package

    1. Avatar photo Fastman says:

      so you got built by an altnet then

  10. Avatar photo Optimist says:

    Why are the exchange codes in this list different from the network identifier codes usually used by Openreach?

    1. Avatar photo FibreBubble says:

      These are known as ‘1141’ codes that exchange and transmission folk like to use.

    2. Avatar photo Optimist says:

      Thank you, FB! I learn something new every day!

  11. Avatar photo J knight says:

    If you live in sheltered housing with access to 24 hours helpline it is likely to cost £60,000+ which residents must pay although this is an “openreach”/BT initiative

  12. Avatar photo Peter Thompson says:

    I’m what is termed a copper not area as we have fibre to the whole street. I have been waiting for 2 months for a connection. No communication from then unless I approach one of them in the street hardly any internet at times during the day due to 4G traffic. It’s like going back 50 years to when l was 20!

  13. Avatar photo Kate naylor says:

    I would like to warn people about the digital voice phones. I have them. But wasn’t told about the problems that come with them.
    1. If there’s a power cut your phones won’t work.
    2. I’d your router is changed, you lose all your contacts that you’ve put into the phones.
    If you have, like me, someone in your home that hasn’t got a mobile phone and I’m out, and needs the emergency services, you’re screwed.
    I’ve now had copper line refitted. This digital voice is a danger to anyone who has a illness .

    1. Avatar photo The Facts says:

      What do customers of altnets like B4RN, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear and all the other FTTP providers do?

  14. Avatar photo Chris says:

    Even if you live in a rollout zone, if your install is anything other than easy, you will be bypassed. BT installed fibre in our area about 18 months ago. All the surrounding houses to where we live got fibre but us, being just a few meters off the housing scheme/street/fibre route, in a flat, simply bypassed and no hint of any potential in the foreseeable future – palmed off when queried. They might come back eventually……

  15. Avatar photo Chris says:

    We did get migrated to SOGEA. Not any improvement from what we had and disheartening when you know all your neighbours are enjoying full throttle fibre. Anyway, rant over and still better than no DSL.

  16. Avatar photo Brian Rose says:

    We are constantly being told that our town of High Wycombe has full fibre. That is not true of our post code is not due in the near future.

  17. Avatar photo still on for copper and I'm still happy says:

    “I’m not one of the new half a million premises, therefore openreach are evil.”

    Every single comment here is somebody whinging. Change the record please.

    1. Avatar photo Fastman says:

      most have zero idea about how complicated and bespoke trying to build a fibre to the home network is the most difficult bit is the bit to the house or close to the house and thats becoming more apparent so if your DIG or joint user or MDU or stuff like that the more a specific bespoke solution will be required for each premise / group of premises

  18. Avatar photo Richard nuth says:

    who cares BT is old and done, close it down and let Netomnia’s 10 Gbps FTTH network use your poles

  19. Avatar photo Manic says:

    Who (residential) needs more than 60MB?
    Until recently 2 of us worked from home, we both had no issues at all. As an experiment I set up 3 laptops,a TV,IPAD, 2 mobiles to streamed services while continuing to work, still no issues (admittedly we don’t have SKY Glass which would need 25MB).

    1. Avatar photo Sonic says:

      Please don’t assume that no one needs faster speeds because you can’t think of a need for it. I download, and crucially, /upload/ 100s of gigabytes of data while working on large migration projects. On a slow FTTC line, it is /painful/ for me currently.

      In any case, upgrading the ageing copper infrastructure is not just about faster download and upload speeds – many people who move to FTTP might go for lower speed packages (similar to speeds on FTTC). It is about implementing the next generation of broadband connectivity across the country. Future-proofing it, while allowing for higher speeds for those that need it.

      Plus it will be less prone to faults and errors, will have lower latency and will be generally better in all aspects; less power hungry, simpler to maintain, easier to upgrade and so on.

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