Openreach List Next 137 UK Areas for Copper to FTTP Switch – Tranche 21
Openreach (BT) has today published the next (Tranche 21) batch of 137 exchanges 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 legacy 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 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 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 full fibre than others). Naturally, premises that can’t yet get FTTP will continue to be served by copper-based broadband products.
137 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 21)
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 137 exchanges confirmed today – reflecting some 854,000 UK premises – takes the total number of exchange upgrades that have already been placed under active “stop sell” rules to 1,041 (or 1,638 if we also include those that have been notified of a future stop sell). Put another way, by 19th August 2026 some 8.9 million premises will be under active Stop Sell – i.e. premises where Full Fibre is available to a majority of premises and copper products cannot be sold – equal to 46.4% of Openreach’s total FTTP footprint.
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James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Manager, said:
“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.
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 19 million homes and businesses, with more than seven million premises currently taking a service.”
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).
137 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 21
| Exchange Name | Exchange Location |
| Glarryford | Antrim |
| Aghadowey | Londonderry |
| Pomeroy | Tyrone |
| Clogher | Tyrone |
| Fintona | Tyrone |
| Dromore/Tyrone | Tyrone |
| Drumquin | Tyrone |
| Ashby De La Zouch | Ashby-de-la-Zouch |
| Freeland | Long Hanborough |
| Adderbury | Kings Sutton |
| Broomfield | Chelmsford |
| Woodham Ferrers | South Woodham Ferrers |
| Framingham | Poringland |
| Newhaven | Newhaven |
| Sacriston | Sacriston |
| Hoghton | Bamber Bridge |
| Penrith | Penrith |
| Dalston | Dalston |
| New Brancepeth | Esh Winning |
| Annbank | Mossblown |
| Newton Stewart | Newton Stewart |
| Ballingry | Ballingry |
| Lockerbie | Lockerbie |
| Chudleigh | Chudleigh |
| Milford Haven | Milford Haven |
| Bala | Bala |
| Llandrindod Wells | Llandrindod Wells |
| Stourport | Stourport-on-Severn |
| Fernhill Heath | Worcester |
| Kessingland | Kessingland |
| Teversham | Cambridge |
| Silsoe | Bedford |
| Saint Faith | Horsham St Faith |
| Great Dunmow | Great Dunmow |
| Girton | Cambridge |
| Dymchurch | Dymchurch |
| Shildon | Shildon |
| Whitley Bridge | Eggborough |
| Whaley Bridge | Whaley Bridge |
| Pencaitland | Wester Pencaitland |
| Durrington | Bulford Camp |
| Romsey | Romsey |
| Plymstock | Plymstock |
| Midsomer Norton | Midsomer Norton |
| Forden | Forden |
| Alsager | Alsager |
| Haslington | Crewe |
| Dyserth | Dyserth |
| Sandbach | Sandbach |
| Stonehouse | Stonehouse |
| Hengoed | Newport (Newport) |
| Amlwch | Amlwch |
| Pershore | Pershore |
| Menai Bridge | Menai Bridge |
| Llandovery | Llandovery |
| Manningtree | Manningtree |
| Dickleburgh | Diss |
| Chestfield | Whitstable |
| South Milford | Sherburn in Elmet |
| Dolgellau | Dolgellau |
| Avebury | Marlborough |
| Lockeridge | Lockeridge |
| Newton Tracey | Bideford |
| Ogbourne St.George | Ogbourne St George |
| Sandon | Stafford |
| Llanbedrog | Llanbedrog |
| Llanfrynach | Brecon |
| Eskdalemuir | Eskdalemuir |
| Long Bredy | Litton Cheney |
| Berriedale | Newport (Highland) |
| Sanday | Lady |
| Llandyrnog | Llandyrnog |
| Dolwen | Betws-yn-Rhos |
| Dolgarrog | Dolgarrog |
| Chapelton | Chapelton |
| Pennyghael | Carsaig |
| Ulva Ferry | Ballygown |
| Buckland St Mary | Bishopswood |
| Steele Road | Hawick |
| Tottington | Greater Manchester – Bury |
| Eastwood | Southend-on-Sea |
| Purfleet | Grays |
| Locks Heath | South Hampshire |
| Hook | Hook (Hart) |
| Felling | Gateshead |
| Southbourne | Bournemouth |
| St Austell | St Austell |
| Stubbington | Stubbington |
| Lynemouth | Lynemouth |
| Starcross | Starcross |
| Loughborough | Loughborough |
| Easton | Bristol |
| Wolverhampton | Wolverhampton |
| Ashford | Ashford (Spelthorne) |
| Uxbridge | Greater London – Hillingdon |
| Woodford | Greater London – Redbridge |
| Smallbrook | Birmingham |
| Wood St | Greater London – City of London |
| Aylesbury | Aylesbury |
| Ingleby Barwick | Ingleby Barwick |
| Leytonstone | Greater London – Waltham Forest |
| Stockton | Stockton-on-Tees |
| Sutton In Ashfield | Sutton in Ashfield |
| Washington | Washington |
| Worle | Weston-Super-Mare |
| Darlington | Darlington |
| Holmfirth | Holmfirth |
| Bedford | Bedford |
| Goscote | Syston |
| Bishops Cleeve | Bishop’s Cleeve |
| Wolviston | Wolviston |
| Armthorpe | Armthorpe |
| Barnwood | Gloucester |
| Desborough | Desborough |
| Coppull | Coppull |
| Trentham | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Sale | Greater Manchester – Trafford |
| Hexton | Bedford |
| Appley Bridge | Greater Manchester – Wigan |
| Manningham | Bradford |
| Stoke City | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Warsop | Market Warsop |
| Clay Cross | Clay Cross |
| Hathern | Loughborough |
| Adwick Le Street | Adwick le Street |
| Horton Bank | Bradford |
| Penwortham | Bamber Bridge |
| Marine | Southend-on-Sea |
| Higher Bolton | Greater Manchester – Bolton |
| Cleland | Cleland |
| West Wickham | Greater London – Bromley |
| Bartestree Cross | Lugwardine |
| Grays Thurrock | Grays |
| Colinton | Edinburgh |
| Kinghorn | Kinghorn |
| Leigh Sinton | Great Malvern |
| Bovey Tracey | Bovey Tracey |
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 “why isn’t my exchange on this list?”
In some cases it is a legitimate interest.
For example my exchange is supposed to be FTTP complete by 2026. If there is no stop sell by Jan 2027 that suggests it is probably running behind.
Well my exchange was changed to fttp years ago… But my road was somehow missed (literally every other road around me, including rural ones are fttp)
and fastest I can get is 30Mbps copper.
This article, considering the author is supposed to be an expert is wrong or maybe misleading at best. The switch over to digital voice is not dependent on FTTP although BT do make it sound that way as well and OFCOM don’t seem to be bothered that they too are misleading people. They cannot force people to change to FTTP they can only stop selling PSTN as a new service. People who have FTTC will still be changed to digital voice and it will work ok and Openreach will have to carry on maintaining the last copper from the PCP to your house well into the next decade.
> They cannot force people to change to FTTP
If a premise is able to receive WBC FTTP, and the exchange has been marked as an “FTTP Priority Exchange”, then yes, they absolutely can. Openreach wants to move away from the copper network in every possible way (yes that includes VDSL/SOGEA services, eventually), as those DSLAMs providing VDSL service cost a lot of money to Openreach for running them [namely in the electric costs], whereas FTTP is a passive network which costs a fraction of the VDSL service and is future proofed.
‘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 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.
‘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.’
In case you missed it.
to add to the above post:
“they can only stop selling PSTN as a new service.”
they’re kicking people off of the PSTN too. Any lines not migrated to an alternative solution by 2027 will simply be cut off. BT Wholesale has a stopgap product called “PDPL” which uses a media gateway in the exchange, but the vast majority of customers do not qualify for it
BT can do whatever it likes with appropriate notice. Ofcom aren’t going to stop them from abandoning copper in areas where FTTP is available. The USO won’t help either; they can use any delivery system they deem appropriate.
Openreach Stop Sell rules were amended to allow customers who are on FTTC @40Mbps to take a new contract with their present ISP or move to another selling the same speed. It is also allowed to bandwidth modify, stay or move. So at present you don’t have to move to FTTP. No doubt at some stage this will have to change.
Mine is…does that mean a mandatory migration to FTTP from my current FTTC/VDSL is on the cards?
Just to clarify…I’m aware of everything Jamie has just said but I want to force them into migrating me without the imposition of a new contract. Anyone know if that is on the cards?
If your property can be serviced by FTTP (go to the BT Wholesale Checker — https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome — , enter postcode and select address, you are looking for WBC FTTP to be listed), then if you try to re-contract, you will have no choice but to move to FTTP.
You can usually stay on out-of-contract pricing on SOGEA for a period of time, but your ISP is incentivised to move you away from the copper network completely, so you will get forced at some point, so it is better if you make the decision yourself, without being forced by your provider.
means no new copper ADSL services
Just like you were forced from analogue to digital TV 20 years ago.
Thanks Edinburgh Guy but you missed my point a bit. I want them to force me because then they don’t have grounds to impose a new contract. When I was moved to digital voice two years ago it did not trigger a new contract because they instigated the move. I’m assuming the same will be true here.
@DaveZ: If they upgrade your line because FTTP has become possible, that is unlikely to require a contract upgrade. If you transition to an FTTP connection as part of a package upgrade, then that would entail a new contract.
@DaveZ
They may eventually upgrade your physical connection from FTTC to FTTP without requiring you to re-contract, but keep you on an equivalent speed profile to what you currently have on FTTC.
By that point I would imagine the cost of remaining on an out of contract plan for so long would be prohibitive for most, compared to recontracting to an FTTP tier at a more attractive price. There are often deals on the 150/30 packages which entice customers to upgrade of their own volition.
SOGfast is a fibre-to-the-cabinet-based service, with Ethernet used over the copper drop to the premises from the cabinet.
No, it isn’t.
It is a service provided using G.fast which is essentially VDSL on steroids.
Ooenreach do not use ethernet for the provision of domestic broadband services (other than to present FTTP services provided over [G/XGS]PON).
Hey Dassa,
FTTP doesn’t have much closer a relationship to Ethernet than VDSL unless using EPON. GPON and XGSPON use their own framing format: Ethernet is not their native framing format so they carry Ethernet as a payload inside their own frames same as VDSL.
Their native frame format is GEM: GPON Encapsulation Method.
All the customers are provisioned via Ethernet regardless of the last mile. They’re delivered to the CP in VLANs. Whether they’re riding over dedicated fibre or broadband the intention was that they look the same.
Presume just some confusion over that Ethernet has three distinct layers to it, physical, MAC, and LLC and while all the access technologies use Ethernet LLC they definitely don’t use Ethernet MAC or PHY and talking about Ethernet being used over the copper sounds like they’re saying Ethernet PHY is in use.
@Polish Poler: Correct, it is Ethernet over the copper cable only in the sense that the low-pass voiceband is not present in a Single-Order configuration.
Openreach has stopped offering G.fast connections so as to concentrate on the full-fibre roll-outs.
Yes Openreach stopped selling it but some ISPs still selling SoGfast (G.fast) eg: UnchainedISP, Sky, Cerberus and File Sanctuary Ltd.
I am one of them still live and active Sogfast with Cerberus (SOGfast Office) 160/30 service.
They stopped building it. It’s still available to a relatively few premises.
@ Phil: Openreach have stopped offering G.fast, so are these ISPs just reallocating G.fast from churn?
@vPolish Poler” Yes, I can imagine there are some tail-end cases, but the intent was to switch all resources off of G.fast.
Llandod , that is a surprise, but then it is only a small place, just shocked it has Fibre full stop.
There is a lot of fibre in rural areas of Wales, NI and Cornwall that predates the fibre boom so it is not surprising to see more of those exchange areas come onto the list as infill is completed.
Small but densely populated villages are a good business case for Openreach as the cost per property will be fairly low and arranging roadworks will be easier than in a city centre. If the fibre can be run overhead then its cheaper still.
@lvor: Wholeheartedly agree with your post. Fibrus is a great example of what you have said in Northern lreland, Openreach also.
Hopefully with Locks Heath on the list, this will spur Toob to pull their finger out and sort their rollout.
I was informed they’d stopped due to a technical problem.
Having said all the above I have zero issues with Virgin and £29 for 1000/100 it’s ok.
Tranche 21 states Stonehouse exchange on the upgrade schedule.
Is this in Scotland or England.?
Only do half our village
Unfortunately openreach claim an exchange has been moved onto fftp, but in rural areas they then only convert profitable houses, not all houses leaving some out on a limm with poor copper broadband with no completion date!!
I’m curious. If I’m attached to an exchange that’s on this list, but OpenReach are telling me that I can’t have FTTP or FTTC (because of my distance from the nearest cabinet), what happens next? Are they forced, at some point, to run fibre out to me to replace my current ADSL connection?
Yes effectively. There is still a long way to go to complete the fibre roll-out, but you should be, sometime between now and when your exchange is shut down, switched over to at least a FTTC connection.
To answer your questions:
1. Nothing.
2. No.
You will stay on ADSL and can change your ADSL provision (e.g. move to another supplier that uses Openreach ADSL). The stop sell has no meaning for you at all.
At some point one of the following things will happen:
1. Your neighbourhood will have FTTP installed and you may choose to move to that. This is the most likely outcome.
2. Openreach will want to cease ADSL service from the exchange and will find an alternative way of serving you, either using FTTC or FTTP, forcing you to move from ADSL.
3. Openreach will want to cease ADSL service from the exchange and will simply terminate the contract with your ISP (with appropriate notice) leaving you without broadband provision. Note that this is a theoretical possibility only and is extremely unlikely – Openreach have not said that they will do this for anyone and any attempt to take this path is likely to be politically contentious.
Why isn’t Horbury Wakefield on the list?
Fed up with FTTC,too slow