Guernsey Switches Off Copper Network as Full Fibre Rollout Nears Completion

Mobile and broadband operator Sure has today started the process of switching off their old copper line telecoms (phone and broadband) network on the English Channel Island of Guernsey, which comes as the network operator’s roll-out of a new gigabit-capable full fibre (FTTP) network on the island nears imminent completion.

Just to recap. Sure is working alongside the States of Guernsey on a joint £37.5m project (£12.5m of public investment) to build a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across the whole of Guernsey (30,000+ premises) by the end of 2026 (i.e. end of 2025 for build completion and 2026 for copper retirement).

The latest update reveals that 93% of homes on the island are now covered by the new full fibre network and 67.7% of properties have already connected to this network (over 20,000 homes), which is up from coverage of 75% and take-up by 15,000 homes at the end of 2024.

As a result, Sure has this week begun the next phase, which involves switching off their old copper line phone and broadband network in stages (this will continue throughout 2026).

Cyrille Joffre, Leader of the Fibre Rollout, said:

“Customers can now enjoy the power of fibre broadband – from working efficiently at home to supporting children’s online learning and streaming their favourite entertainment. Fibre delivers consistently fast, reliable speeds up to 2Gbps, so there are options to suit every home and lifestyle.

The team has worked tremendously hard to deliver a world-class fibre network to the island on time and on budget, and we’re now on the home straight – which is fantastic for Guernsey’s connectivity and customers’ increasingly digital lives.

Switching to fibre is quick and seamless. The old copper network is being retired, so it’s vital that everyone – even landline-only customers – switches to fibre to stay connected.”

Anyone who has not yet switched and is in an area where the copper network is due to be switched-off will receive up to three visits with contact information left if no one is at home. This is closely followed by three letters communicating the imminent copper service cease, the third and final letter being hand-delivered.