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Openreach List 163 More UK Areas for Copper to FTTP Switch – Tranche 19 UPDATE

Friday, Jan 17th, 2025 (1:53 pm) - Score 21,240
Openreach-2024-FTTP-Exchange-Engineer-Next-to-Rack

Openreach (BT) has released the next January 2025 batch of 163 exchanges (Tranche 19) in their “FTTP Priority Exchange Stop Sell” programme, which reflects areas where over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre lines 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 cross-over. The first starts with the gradual migration of traditional analogue 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 analogue phone services began on 5th September 2023 (here).

NOTE: Openreach’s full fibre currently covers 17 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).

163 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 19)

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 163 exchanges announced today 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 1,338 (up from 1,175 at the last update). The “stop sell” in the Tranche 19 areas will be introduced from 14th February 2026.

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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).

UPDATE 20th Jan 2025 @ 10:52am

Openreach sent a few more details over, which reveals that Tranche 19 reflects more than 960k premises across the UK and, by mid-February, ‘stop sell’ rules will have been activated in 852 exchanges – meaning more than 7 million premises will be under active Stop Sell (this reflects around 40% of Openreach’s total 17m full fibre footprint).

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 17 million homes and businesses, with more than 5.5 million premises currently taking a service.

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. 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.”

163 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 19

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Exchange Name Exchange Location Exchange Code
Calthorpe (BM/CAL) Birmingham CMCAL
Brentwood (BNJ) Brentwood EABRW
Bulwell (BSY) Nottingham EMBULWE
Erskine (GW/ERS) Erskine WSERS
Horsham (HMC) Horsham SDHRSHM
East Grinstead (EG) East Grinstead NDEGR
Selkirk (SXJ) Selkirk ESSEL
Ashford (AD) Ashford (Ashford) NDASF
Truro (TO) Truro WWTRUR
Horseley Fields (HYF) Wolverhampton CMHOR
Stannington (XNG) Stannington NESGT
St Asaph (SAF) St Asaph WNSA
Sudbrooke Park (SPK) Cherry Willingham SLSPK
Helmsley (HHN) Helmsley MYHLM
Pontybodkin (PEH) Leeswood WNPBK
Abbots Bromley (ABX) Abbots Bromley EMABBOT
Cheriton (CTQ) Folkestone NDCHE
Southwater (XWR) Southwater SDSTHWT
Baldslow (JCK) Hastings NDBAL
Beccles (BDP) Beccles EABEC
Leiston (LDN) Leiston EALTN
Seend (SUD) Seend SSSEE
Llanidloes (LLE) Llanidloes WNLNS
Honiton (HKW) Honiton WWHONI
Maindee (MDE) Newport (Newport) SWMDE
Hereford (HR) Hereford WNHR
Settle (SFT) Settle MYSET
Axminster (AX) Axminster WWAXMI
Trefnant (TEU) St Asaph WNTRN
Burghill (BHL) Credenhill WNBUR
Barming (BGO) Maidstone NDBAR
Bexhill (BLC) Bexhill NDBEX
Chirk (CHN) Chirk Bank WNCHK
Walney (WAL) North Walney LCWAL
St Budeaux (SBX) Plymouth WWSBUD
Colne (CKY) Colne LCCOL
Bangor (BG) Bangor WNBG
Culverhouse (CUV) Cardiff SWCUV
Bacup (BAC) Bacup LCBAC
Retford (RF) Retford SLRF
Bridgwater (BNU) Bridgwater WWBWAT
Thornley (TCN) Wheatley Hill NETL
Gatley (MR/GAT) Greater Manchester – Stockport MRGAT
Morriston (MLZ) Swansea SWMLZ
Port Talbot (PTB) Port Talbot SWPTB
Caldicot (CIT) Cil-y-coed SWCIT
Briton Ferry (BPG) Port Talbot SWBPG
Nefyn (NBB) Nefyn WNNEF
Skewen (SKU) Neath SWSKU
Burley In Wharfedale (BTP) Burley in Wharfedale MYBRW
Stranraer (SXW) Stranraer WSSTR
Upwey (UW) Weymouth STUPWEY
Preston (PQP) Weymouth STPRSTN
Brynmawr (BSE) Brynmawr SWBSE
Glossop (GBB) Glossop MRGLO
Cleethorpes (CJF) Cleethorpes SLCLS
Ruabon (RB) Cefn-mawr WNRUA
Market Weighton (MGG) Market Weighton MYMAR
Ogmore Valley (OAG) Ogmore Vale SWOAG
Yaxley (YY) Peterborough EMYXLEY
Killingholme (KHF) Immingham SLKHE
Overseal (OBR) Linton EMOVERS
Hellifield (HFQ) Hellifield MYHLI
Crowle (CPL) Crowle (North Lincolnshire) SLCPL
Annaghmore (ANM) Armagh NIAE
Fairbourne (FBN) Fairbourne WNFAI
Llangoed (LGQ) Llangoed WNLAD
Canewdon (ZJC) Canewdon EACDN
Peterston-Super-Ely (PRU) St Nicholas SWPRU
Llangarron (LUF) Whitchurch (Herefordshire) WNLGN
Tanworth In Arden (TWT) Wood End (Stratford-on-Avon) CMTAN
Eastoft (ETF) Garthorpe SLETF
Wick (WJK) Wick (The Vale of Glamorgan) SWWJK
Great Alne (GTZ) Alcester CMGREA
Staunton Court (SZN) Corse SSSTN
Ferryside (FBZ) Ferryside SWFBZ
Peterchurch (PCU) Peterchurch WNPCH
Berriew (BFM) Berriew WNBER
Llanbedr (LNB) Llanbedr WNLBR
Lamphey (LHY) Freshwater East SWLHY
Llithfaen (LLN) Nefyn WNLTN
Dinas Cross (DCP) Dinas Cross SWDCP
Gargunnock (GFO) Gargunnock ESGAG
Fionnphort (FNP) Baile Mòr WSFIO
Kinoulton (KOL) Kinoulton EMKINOU
Crawford (ZCF) Crawford WSCRW
Leadhills (LRI) Leadhills WSLEA
Llanuwchllyn (LXL) Bala WNLU
Llanrhaeadr (LRU) Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant WNLRD
Cannings (ANS) All Cannings SSCAN
Thurlaston (TLQ) Thurlaston EMTHURL
Bodfari (QOD) Bodfari WNBFI
Crailing (ZIT) Jedburgh ESCRG
Dunham On Trent (DUA) Newton on Trent SLDUA
Taddington (TDG) Buxton (High Peak) MRTAD
Carsington (ZRI) Brassington EMCARSI
Beddgelert (BJG) Waunfawr WNBED
Llandderfel (LTL) Bala WNLDF
Luing (LIG) Cullipool WSLUI
Whalton (WZO) Whalton NEWH
New Radnor (NRV) New Radnor WNNR
Broadhaven (QHV) Broad Haven SWQHV
Milland (OLL) Liphook THMD
Blyth (BJN) Blyth (Bassetlaw) SLBLY
Benington (QQX) Stevenage SMBEN
Samlesbury (SMB) Samlesbury LCSAM
Camptown (ZMA) Jedburgh ESCAM
Teviotdale (TVT) Newmill ESTEV
Pipegate (PPA) Woore WNPIP
Rousay (RSY) Brinian NSROU
Jura (JU) Craighouse WSJUR
Grantshouse (GRO) Fogo ESGRT
Pendine (PEV) Pendine SWPEV
Longformacus (LXF) Longformacus ESLOF
Cappercleuch (CPZ) Selkirk ESCAC
Burnsall (QBS) Embsay MYBNS
West Sandwick (WXS) West Sandwick NSWSW
Inversnaid (IND) Inversnaid ESIVS
Townhead (TND) Kirkcudbright WSTOD
Hunslet Leeds MYHLT
Warrington Warrington LVWAR
Mansfield Mansfield EMMNSFI
Nuneaton Nuneaton CMNUN
Denton Burn Newcastle upon Tyne NEDB
Laisterdyke Bradford MYLAI
Eckington (ECH) Eckington SLEK
Mirfield Mirfield MYMIR
Clowne (CNC) Clowne SLCL
Glenfield Leicester EMGLNFI
Sandal Wakefield MYSAN
Holymoorside Chesterfield SLHLY
Willenhall Willenhall CMWIL
Oadby (ODY) Leicester EMODDBY
Gorebridge Gorebridge ESGRB
Titchfield Fareham SDTTCHF
Stockton Heath Warrington LVSTK
Fairmilehead Edinburgh ESFML
Hemel Hempstead Hemel Hempstead SMHH
Kirkham Kirkham LCKHA
Bushey Heath (L/BUS) Bushey LWBUS
Rothwell Rothwell MYROT
Burton Latimer Burton Latimer EMBRLAT
Horsley Kilburn EMHORSL
Wallsend Wallsend NEW
Standeford (STF) Wolverhampton CMSFD
Carnforth Carnforth LCCAF
Chorlton Greater Manchester – Manchester MRCHO
Slaithwaite Huddersfield MYSLA
Banknock Banknock ESBAK
Bannockburn Stirling ESBAN
Longford Greater Manchester – Trafford MRLON
Westwood Warrington LVWTW
Holytown Motherwell WSHOL
Wigan Greater Manchester – Wigan LCWIG
Stockport Greater Manchester – Stockport MRSTO
Esher Esher LSESH
Finchfield (FID) Wolverhampton CMFIN
Staveley Staveley SLSY
Denny Denny ESDEN
Bonnybridge (BDG) Bonnybridge ESBYB
Hoddesdon Hoddesdon LNHOD
Leamore Bloxwich CMLEA
Bradwell Abbey Milton Keynes SMBA
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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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Comments
31 Responses

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  1. Avatar photo binary says:

    ” [The] ‘FTTP Priority Exchange Stop Sell’ programme […] reflects areas where over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre lines and will thus stop selling copper based *analogue* phone and broadband products (i.e. FTTP becomes the only product option).”

    I think the reference to analogue phone products is essentially redundant now – granted there are a few exemptions to the broader ‘WLR / analogue stop sell’, but I think only until the end of March this year.

    1. Avatar photo Ivor says:

      I would assume the LLU firms can carry on installing analogue POTS services if they want, as it goes into their own equipment and not BT/Openreach’s PSTN switches. That’ll be restricted by the FTTP stop sell rather than the national WLR one.

    2. Avatar photo 84.08khz says:

      I don’t believe anyone other than BT is still selling new POTS lines.

  2. Avatar photo Andrew Crawford says:

    is there any where.i can search to find out if my.exchange is on the stop sell list yet?

    1. Mark-Jackson Mark Jackson says:

      The ‘Stop Sells Page’ linked in the article, just above the list.

    2. Avatar photo MilesT says:

      Hey Mark,

      When you include exchange lists like this in your posts, could you sort them by the exchange code, as this will naturally group the exchanges/towns geographically due to how Openreach has constructed the exchange code name as a meaningful key (first 2 characters seem to be a region name)

      Makes it easier to scan the list for locations that may be important

    3. Avatar photo MilesT says:

      The stop sells page does not have an easy way to look up the status of an exchange by entering e.g. a town name. You have to download a large number of documents, the location of which on the page is not very clear. (I think it is this link on the page: https://www.openreach.co.uk/cpportal/products/the-all-ip-programme/stopsell-updates#logged-in-accordion-content-81146133)

  3. Avatar photo Glen Ridding says:

    So, only one in the North East, and nothing in County Durham. Pathetic. Looks like I’m stuck with Vicious Media for some time….

    1. Avatar photo 125us says:

      You seem confused about what this list means.

    2. Avatar photo jabuzzard says:

      Also confused as there are at least two. Both Denton Burn and Wallsend are most decidedly in the north East of England

  4. Avatar photo Michael says:

    Very useful but confused. We live in Burghclere 3 miles out of Newbury. We are on copper but under a government scheme with village agreement Fibre Option put a fibre optic ring around the village and we have connections box outside our houses and the ring has been connected by Open Reach to the exchange
    The question to which I can’t get an answer to is why Sky, Vodafone, EE ie broadband service providers can’t connect to our homes so we can get the benefits of a fibre? Michael

    1. Avatar photo The real Witcher says:

      Those companies possibly don’t have a wholesale agreement to use that network. Look at the network providers website to see what retail ISPs are available

    2. Avatar photo The Facts says:

      Who are Fibre Option?

    3. Avatar photo Tom says:

      Under government funding rules (if the same as the voucher scheme) the fibre provider needs to allow wholesale and other access. However if Sky, TalkTalk etc. do not feel it is worth their time organising it, they won’t be reselling/wholesale over that altnets fibre infrastructure.

  5. Avatar photo Lonpfrb says:

    30 million FTTP connections out of 70 million UK population seems like a huge miss.

    Such poverty of ambition.

    1. Avatar photo binary says:

      Very ambitious to think every single person in the UK should have their very own dedicated FTTP connection.

      A bit wasteful too for those great many properties inhabited by more than one person…

    2. Avatar photo Jimmy says:

      There’s an average of more than one person per household!

    3. Avatar photo graham says:

      @ Lonpfrb theres not 70 million properties, around 30 million properties, hence the figures

    4. Avatar photo 125us says:

      Such poverty of maths.

      So, to be clear, you think every premise should have an average of more than 2 FTTP connections?

  6. Avatar photo David (Balderton) says:

    So, once again we hear the fact that “copper” systems are to go.
    What will happen to some of us who have been told that will not be able to get the fibre service. Are we going to be in a situation that we will not have any communication systems (“pnones”)?

    1. Mark-Jackson Mark Jackson says:

      If you can’t get FTTP yet then Openreach will NOT withdraw the old service(s).

    2. Avatar photo No name says:

      Stop sell only is for addresses that are served by Full Fibre.

      Its “no going back to copper” . You can’t go back to copper if you’ve not left it yet.

  7. Avatar photo Joe says:

    People so lucky st davids a city of 2k people is left with copper wire connections while all around it get fttp even 2 house hamlet!

    1. Avatar photo A Stevens says:

      There are much bigger cities than that without fibre. Have a look even at somewhere like Oxford, which is way behind the game!

    2. Avatar photo 125us says:

      Netomnia cover Oxford.

    3. Avatar photo The Facts says:

      @123 not according to ThinkBroadband.

  8. Avatar photo Ad47uk says:

    I noticed my city is in there, took a time, but what about people who for some reason or others are not allowed to have FTTP? Rented accommodation, for a start, I know a couple of people who are having problems getting permission to have Fibre.

    While it was a not big hassle for me, it was still a hassle and still took longer than it should have. So if I want to go back to FTTC, I will have to decide before July when my Zzoomm contract runs out.

    1. Avatar photo Jichael Mackson says:

      Why are you so obsessed with going back to old technology?

  9. Avatar photo MRLeeds says:

    Somewhat amused to see my exchange on their when I can’t get FTTP and none of the streets around me can either, luckily I got CityFibre FTTP 3+ years ago.

    1. Avatar photo MRLeeds says:

      In fact this is what the OR FTTP checker says “Build planned between now and Dec-2026”, so on the list for a stop sell area but possibly two years until FTTP.

  10. Avatar photo We need faster internet says:

    Virgin media contacted me to say they are building in my area, coincidentally I have just received an email from Openreach that I am now in build plans.. they did build in my area in 2021/2022 but not on my street due to ‘complexities’. I complained and they said Q3 2025 as it was moved from 2023/24. Guess with BRSK already built and Virgin looking at building they decided to finally consider building but we shall see

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