BT's Copper Bonanza: £2 Billion Windfall from Abandoned Networks

BT's shift from its ageing copper telephone network to fibre is not only modernizing its infrastructure but also generating significant revenue. The company may be able to secure more than 2 billion pounds ($3.7 trillion won) from copper recovered in the process, exceeding initial estimates of 1.5 billion pounds ($2.77 trillion won). This unexpected windfall is attributed to rising global demand for copper, driven by expansion of artificial intelligence data centres, renewable energy investment, and growing electrification demand.

The value of reclaimed copper has increased due to higher prices, which are expected to continue rising over the next 10 years. BT's subsidiary Openreach is replacing the existing network with a fibre network, aiming to connect 30 million households by 2030. In the most recent fiscal year alone, Openreach recovered around 10,000 metric tons of copper, bringing the cumulative total since 2023 to more than 22,000 metric tons.

The company has partnered with cable recycling firm EMR and received an advance payment of 99 million pounds ($183.0 billion won) for recently recovered copper volumes. This unexpected revenue stream is not only turning old networks into funds but also highlighting the strategic importance of copper in modern infrastructure.