Ofcom Gives Openreach Green Light for Copper Price Adjustments in 2029
Britain's communications regulator Ofcom has announced it will allow Openreach to adjust wholesale pricing on copper broadband connections starting April 1, 2029. This change is part of the country's transition to full-fiber infrastructure.
The decision only applies to premises where full-fiber is available and ultrafast broadband with download speeds exceeding 300 megabits per second reaches 90% of premises. Currently, Openreach maintains both copper and fiber networks, but operating dual infrastructure is costly and inefficient.
Openreach will be allowed to alter copper connection prices to encourage customer migration to fiber services. Customers will retain pricing protections under the new framework, with existing price caps on copper-based services remaining where full-fiber is unavailable.
The regulator stated that evidence indicates customers can switch to full-fiber services at comparable or lower costs than copper-based connections. Broadband providers are expected to assist customers in finding alternative service arrangements.