- Openreach has announced that over 200 exchanges will stop providing copper services in the next 12 months.
- Compare Fibre research suggests that this will result in reduced consumer choices and higher broadband prices.
- Consumer choice in these areas will fall by as much as half.
- Consumer prices in these areas will increase by as much as double.
The long term plan for Internet services in the United Kingdom is to have a full-fibre network providing Gigabit speeds for all who want them. This change will result in the transition from copper internet access to fibre internet access for all.
Initially, the entire UK was to be fully fibred by 2025. However, the UK Government watered down this ambitious target to 85% of premises receiving Gigabit-capable services by 2025. Either way, the UK’s Internet infrastructure is advancing, and the technologies and services we use to access it are changing.
On the face of it, it’s excellent news. The UK’s fibre infrastructure will replace the archaic copper technology many of us use to access the internet. The Government is setting aside £5bn to connect the remaining hardest to reach areas. But there’s a cost of this light speed, ultrafast revolution.
Openreach has recently announced that over 200 broadband exchanges across the UK will stop providing copper broadband services in the next 12 months. If we take a closer look at what is happening in areas scheduled for the “stop-sell” of copper broadband services (which includes Superfast broadband), the costs are clear to see.
Take Flockton in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, as a classic example. Today you can order both copper broadband and full-fibre broadband services. However, as of June 2021, Openreach will no longer provide copper services from this exchange.
| | MONTHLY PRICE |
| | BT | Sky | TalkTalk | Plusnet |
Cheapest Copper broadband | £26.99 | £25.00 | £26.00 | £18.99 |
Cheapest Full Fibre broadband | £39.99 | £35.00 | Not available | Not available |
Copper to Full Fibre increase | 48.2% | 40.0% | | |
Cheapest to Full Fibre increase | 110.6% | 84.3% | | |
A new broadband consumer in Flockton arriving after June 2021 will be paying (at today’s prices) anywhere from 84-110% more for their broadband than an existing resident, with a reduced number of providers from which to choose. The net effect of the “stop sell” reduced consumer choice and higher prices.
Similarly, an existing Flockton resident looking to switch Superfast providers is likely to be locked into their current provider. Unless they want to move to a full-fibre service, switching to another Superfast service after June 2021 will no longer be an option.
So, it seems what full-fibre gives with one hand; it takes away with the other. Compare Fibre predicts that without more providers and a more significant range of lower-priced, lower bandwidth packages, broadband is about to see some hyper-inflation hotspots.
Openreach Stop Sell Schedule
Exchange Name | Exchange Location | Exchange Code | S-S Date |
Abbeyhill | City of Edinburgh | ESABB | 29-Jun-21 |
Achnasheen | Highland | NSASN | 29-Jun-21 |
Allestree Park | Derby | EMALLES | 29-Jun-21 |
Altnaharra | Highland | NSALT | 29-Jun-21 |
Anstruther | Fife | ESANS | 25-Jan-22 |
Arley | Cheshire West and Chester | MRARL | 29-Jun-21 |
Armagh | Armagh | NIAM | 05-Oct-21 |
Aughton Green | West Lancashire | LVAUG | 25-Jan-22 |
Aultguish | Highland | NSALG | 29-Jun-21 |
Balby | Doncaster | SLBAL | 25-Jan-22 |
Bangor | Newtownards & Bangor | NIBA | 05-Oct-21 |
Barry | Vale of Glamorgan | SWCFK | 05-Oct-21 |
Be/Ballysillan | Belfast | NIBYS | 29-Jun-21 |
Be/City | Belfast | NICTY | 29-Jun-21 |
Beacon | Birmingham | CMBEAC | 29-Jun-21 |
Bearwood | Birmingham | CMBEAR | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Balmoral | Belfast | NIBML | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Cregagh | Belfast | NICRG | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast East | Belfast | NIEAS | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Fortwilliam | Belfast | NIFWM | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Knock | Belfast | NIKNK | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Malone | Belfast | NIMAL | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast North | Belfast | NINTH | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Ormeau | Belfast | NIORM | 29-Jun-21 |
Belfast Stormont | Belfast | NISTM | 29-Jun-21 |
Belsay | Northumberland | NEBLS | 29-Jun-21 |
Benton | North Tyneside | NEB | 05-Oct-21 |
Betchworth | Mole Valley | LSBET | 25-Jan-22 |
Billericay | Basildon | EABCY | 25-Jan-22 |
Binley | Coventry | CMBIN | 25-Jan-22 |
Birchfield | Birmingham | CMBIR | 29-Jun-21 |
Birkenhead | Wirral | LVBIR | 25-Jan-22 |
Bishopsworth | Bristol, City of | SSBIS | 29-Jun-21 |
Bontddu | Gwynedd | WNBON | 29-Jun-21 |
Bonvilston | Vale of Glamorgan | SWBJY | 29-Jun-21 |
Boreham | Chelmsford | EABOR | 29-Jun-21 |
Boreland | Dumfries and Galloway | WSBOR | 29-Jun-21 |
Bow | Mid Devon | WWBOW | 05-Oct-21 |
Brentwood | Brentwood | EABRW | 05-Oct-21 |
Bridgemere | Cheshire East | WMBGM | 29-Jun-21 |
Broadstairs | Thanet | NDBRO | 05-Oct-21 |
Brock | Wyre | LCBRC | 25-Jan-22 |
Bromsgrove | Bromsgrove | WMBPZ | 05-Oct-21 |
Broxburn | West Lothian | ESBRO | 05-Oct-21 |
Bungay | Waveney | EABGY | 25-Jan-22 |
Burgh Heath | Reigate and Banstead | LSBURH | 29-Jun-21 |
Burleygate | Herefordshire, County of | WNBGT | 29-Jun-21 |
Burscough | West Lancashire | LCBUS | 25-Jan-22 |
Caergwrle | Flintshire | WNCAG | 29-Jun-21 |
Campsie | Derry-Londonderry | NICSI | 25-Jan-22 |
Canon Pyon | Herefordshire, County of | WNCP | 29-Jun-21 |
Cantley | Doncaster | SLCLY | 29-Jun-21 |
Canworthy Water | Cornwall | WWCANW | 29-Jun-21 |
Capheaton | Northumberland | NECAP | 05-Oct-21 |
Cardinham | Cornwall | WWCARD | 05-Oct-21 |
Carrickfergus | Carrickfergus | NIC | 25-Jan-22 |
Carryduff | Northern Ireland | NICF | 29-Jun-21 |
Castledawson | Castledawson | NICD | 25-Jan-22 |
Catforth | Preston | LCCAT | 29-Jun-21 |
Caxton | South Cambridgeshire | EACAX | 05-Oct-21 |
Chapeltown | Leeds | MYCHA | 25-Jan-22 |
Cheylesmore | Coventry | CMCHEY | 05-Oct-21 |
Childwall | Liverpool | LVCHI | 29-Jun-21 |
Chineham | Basingstoke and Deane | THCHN | 29-Jun-21 |
Chorleywood | Three Rivers | LWCHO | 25-Jan-22 |
Chwilog | Gwynedd | WNCHW | 25-Jan-22 |
Claughton | Wirral | LVCLA | 29-Jun-21 |
Clitheroe | Ribble Valley | LCCLR | 25-Jan-22 |
Coads Green | Cornwall | WWCOAD | 29-Jun-21 |
Comber | Newtownards & Bangor | NICR | 25-Jan-22 |
Congleton | Cheshire East | MRCON | 25-Jan-22 |
Corstorphine | City of Edinburgh | ESCOR | 29-Jun-21 |
Cranfield | Central Bedfordshire | SMCR | 29-Jun-21 |
Cressington | Liverpool | LVCRE | 29-Jun-21 |
Crook | County Durham | NECR | 25-Jan-22 |
Crookham | Northumberland | ESCRO | 29-Jun-21 |
Cross | Derry-Londonderry | NICRS | 25-Jan-22 |
Crossgates | Leeds | MYCSG | 25-Jan-22 |
Crosthwaite | South Lakeland | LCCHE | 29-Jun-21 |
Croston | Chorley | LCCRS | 25-Jan-22 |
Dagenham | Greater London | LNDAG | 29-Jun-21 |
Daviot | Highland | NSDAV | 29-Jun-21 |
Deddington | Cherwell | SMDD | 29-Jun-21 |
Doncaster | Doncaster | SLDC | 05-Oct-21 |
Doncaster North | Doncaster | SLDCN | 05-Oct-21 |
Dundonald | Belfast | NIDLD | 29-Jun-21 |
Dundrum | Dundrum | NIDR | 25-Jan-22 |
Dutton Diffeth | Wrexham | WNDD | 05-Oct-21 |
Earlsdon | Coventry | CMEARD | 29-Jun-21 |
East Marden | Chichester | SDSTMRD | 29-Jun-21 |
Eastham | Wirral | LVEAS | 05-Oct-21 |
Eccles | Greater Manchester | MRECC | 29-Jun-21 |
Edwalton | Rushcliffe | EMEDWAL | 05-Oct-21 |
Epsom | Epsom and Ewell | LSEPSM | 25-Jan-22 |
Ewell | Epsom and Ewell | LSEWE | 29-Jun-21 |
Failsworth | Greater Manchester | MRFAI | 29-Jun-21 |
Fleetwood | Wyre | LCFLW | 25-Jan-22 |
Flockton | Kirklees | MYFLO | 29-Jun-21 |
Formby | Sefton | LCFOM | 25-Jan-22 |
Gants Hill | Greater London | LNGHL | 29-Jun-21 |
Gateacre | Liverpool | LVGAT | 29-Jun-21 |
Gedling | Gedling | EMGDDLI | 29-Jun-21 |
Glendale | Highland | NSGDL | 05-Oct-21 |
Gosforth | Newcastle upon Tyne | NEGF | 29-Jun-21 |
Great Bernera | Eilean Siar | NSGRE | 29-Jun-21 |
Great Crosby | Sefton | LVGRE | 29-Jun-21 |
Halkyn | Flintshire | WNHAL | 05-Oct-21 |
Harborne | Birmingham | CMHARBO | 29-Jun-21 |
Hardingstone | Northampton | EMHARDI | 25-Jan-22 |
Harehills | Leeds | MYHHL | 29-Jun-21 |
Harewood End | Herefordshire, County of | WNHAE | 29-Jun-21 |
Hartburn | Northumberland | NEHR | 05-Oct-21 |
Hatch End | Three Rivers | LWHAT | 29-Jun-21 |
Haydon Wick | Swindon | SSHYW | 05-Oct-21 |
Headingley | Leeds | MYHEA | 29-Jun-21 |
Hepple | Northumberland | NEHPL | 05-Oct-21 |
Heriot | Scottish Borders | ESHER | 05-Oct-21 |
Highbury | Birmingham | CMHIGH | 29-Jun-21 |
Horsforth | Leeds | MYHSF | 29-Jun-21 |
How Caple | Herefordshire, County of | WNHCP | 05-Oct-21 |
Hulme Hall | Greater Manchester | MRHUL | 29-Jun-21 |
Ilford North | Greater London | LNILN | 05-Oct-21 |
Kentford | Forest Heath | EAKEN | 29-Jun-21 |
Kenton Road | Greater London | LWKROA | 29-Jun-21 |
Keresley | Coventry | CMKER | 29-Jun-21 |
Kilmarnock | East Ayrshire | WSKIL | 29-Jun-21 |
Kirkburton | Kirklees | MYKKB | 25-Jan-22 |
Lanreath | Cornwall | WWLANR | 29-Jun-21 |
Lempitlaw | Scottish Borders | ESLEM | 29-Jun-21 |
Lillingstonedayrell | Aylesbury Vale | SMLD | 05-Oct-21 |
Linstead | Suffolk Coastal | EALIN | 05-Oct-21 |
Llandegla | Denbighshire | WNLDA | 29-Jun-21 |
Llanfaethlu | Isle of Anglesey | WNLFU | 05-Oct-21 |
Longridge | Ribble Valley | LCLON | 05-Oct-21 |
Lundin Links | Fife | ESLUN | 25-Jan-22 |
Lurgan | Craigavon | NILG | 05-Oct-21 |
Mayals | Swansea | SWMYS | 29-Jun-21 |
Merton Park | Greater London | LSMEPK | 29-Jun-21 |
Mickle Trafford | Cheshire West and Chester | WNMT | 29-Jun-21 |
Molesey | Greater London | LSMOL | 25-Jan-22 |
Moortown | Leeds | MYMOO | 25-Jan-22 |
Morley | Leeds | MYMOR | 29-Jun-21 |
Mountwood | Wirral | LVMOU | 05-Oct-21 |
Neston | Cheshire West and Chester | LVNES | 25-Jan-22 |
Newtonards | Newtownards & Bangor | NINTS | 05-Oct-21 |
North | Bristol, City of | SSNOR | 25-Jan-22 |
Okehampton | West Devon | WWOKEH | 25-Jan-22 |
Olney | Milton Keynes | SMOY | 25-Jan-22 |
Orpington | Greater London | LSORP | 05-Oct-21 |
Otterham Station | Cornwall | WWOSTN | 29-Jun-21 |
Padstow | Cornwall | WWPADS | 29-Jun-21 |
Parbold | West Lancashire | LCPAR | 29-Jun-21 |
Peartree | Derby | EMPRTRE | 25-Jan-22 |
Penzance | Cornwall | WWPENZ | 05-Oct-21 |
Pinhoe | Exeter | WWPINH | 29-Jun-21 |
Portadown | Craigavon | NIPO | 05-Oct-21 |
Portavogie | Portavogie | NIPVE | 25-Jan-22 |
Portstewart | Portstewart | NIPS | 25-Jan-22 |
Prestwich | Greater Manchester | MRPRE | 29-Jun-21 |
Radcliffe | Greater Manchester | MRRAD | 29-Jun-21 |
Radford | Coventry | CMRAD | 29-Jun-21 |
Rickmansworth | Three Rivers | LWRIC | 05-Oct-21 |
Ringford | Dumfries and Galloway | WSRIN | 29-Jun-21 |
Rock Ferry | Wirral | LVROC | 29-Jun-21 |
Rufford | West Lancashire | LCRUF | 25-Jan-22 |
Rumford | Cornwall | WWRUMF | 29-Jun-21 |
Salisbury | Wiltshire | STSALIS | 01-Dec-20 |
Saxmundham | Suffolk Coastal | EASXM | 05-Oct-21 |
Sefton Park | Liverpool | LVSEF | 29-Jun-21 |
Sheering | Epping Forest | EASHR | 25-Jan-22 |
Sheldon | Birmingham | CMSHEL | 29-Jun-21 |
Sherwood | Nottingham | EMSHRWO | 29-Jun-21 |
Shirley | Solihull | CMSHI | 25-Jan-22 |
Solihull | Solihull | CMSOL | 29-Jun-21 |
South | Bristol, City of | SSSOU | 29-Jun-21 |
Southminster | Maldon | EASMN | 25-Jan-22 |
Southwick | Dumfries and Galloway | WSSOK | 29-Jun-21 |
Springfield | Birmingham | CMSPR | 29-Jun-21 |
St Buryan | Cornwall | WWSBUR | 29-Jun-21 |
Stanecastle | North Ayrshire | WSIRS | 05-Oct-21 |
Stechford | Birmingham | CMSTE | 29-Jun-21 |
Stoneycroft | Liverpool | LVSTO | 29-Jun-21 |
Streetly | Birmingham | CMSTRE | 29-Jun-21 |
Sully | Vale of Glamorgan | SWXUU | 29-Jun-21 |
Sutton | Chichester | SDSTTN | 29-Jun-21 |
Swansea | Swansea | SWSX | 29-Jun-21 |
Swinton | Greater Manchester | MRSWI | 29-Jun-21 |
Tadcaster | Selby | MYTAD | 05-Oct-21 |
Tarporley | Cheshire West and Chester | WNTAR | 29-Jun-21 |
Tarvin | Cheshire West and Chester | WNTV | 25-Jan-22 |
Thames Ditton | Elmbridge | LSTHDT | 05-Oct-21 |
Thamesmead | Greater London | LSTHMD | 05-Oct-21 |
Thornton Heath | Greater London | LSTHO | 05-Oct-21 |
Tile Hill | Coventry | CMTIL | 29-Jun-21 |
Toothill | Swindon | SSTHL | 29-Jun-21 |
Trentside | Rushcliffe | EMTRENT | 29-Jun-21 |
Tresillian | Cornwall | WWTRES | 29-Jun-21 |
Tudweiliog | Gwynedd | WNTUD | 29-Jun-21 |
Walkden | Greater Manchester | MRWAL | 29-Jun-21 |
Wallasey | Wirral | LVWAL | 29-Jun-21 |
Warrenpoint | Warrenpoint, The Burren | NIWP | 25-Jan-22 |
Waterloo | Sefton | LVWAT | 05-Oct-21 |
Waternish | Highland | NSWNS | 05-Oct-21 |
West Calder | West Lothian | ESWCA | 25-Jan-22 |
West Kingsdown | Sevenoaks | NDWKI | 25-Jan-22 |
Westbury-On-Trym | Bristol, City of | SSWOT | 29-Jun-21 |
Wettenhall | Cheshire East | WMWET | 29-Jun-21 |
Whitburn | West Lothian | ESWHI | 25-Jan-22 |
Whitchurch | Cardiff | SWWXC | 29-Jun-21 |
Whiteabbey | Antrim and Newtownabbey | NIWBY | 29-Jun-21 |
Whitefield | Greater Manchester | MRWHI | 29-Jun-21 |
Whitehead | Whitehead, Ballycarry | NIWD | 25-Jan-22 |
Whitley Bay | North Tyneside | NEWB | 25-Jan-22 |
Wickford | Basildon | EAWFD | 05-Oct-21 |
Winterton | North Lincolnshire | SLWKT | 05-Oct-21 |
Wollaton | Nottingham | EMWOLLA | 05-Oct-21 |
Woodgate | Birmingham | CMWDGT | 05-Oct-21 |
Woodhouse | Sheffield | SLWD | 25-Jan-22 |
Wythenshawe | Greater Manchester | MRWYT | 05-Oct-21 |
Zelah | Cornwall | WWZELA | 05-Oct-21 |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
