UK Copper Network To Be Retired by 2029 Amid Shift to Full-Fibre Broadband

Ofcom has set out its plan to retire the UK's copper broadband infrastructure in favor of full-fibre connections. The move is expected to improve internet speeds and reliability, enabling households and businesses to do more online.

The regulator has decided that Openreach can begin to alter the wholesale prices of copper connections from April 1, 2029, at premises where full fibre is available and ultrafast broadband (download speeds of >300mbit/s) is available to 90% of premises.

However, customers on the Openreach network will always remain protected by a charge control. If full fibre is not available at a premises, the existing cap on the price of a copper-based service will remain in place.