Ofcom sets out Openreach’s copper network retirement
September 10, 2026



Ofcom has set out its decision on the next steps of its phased deregulation of copper broadband infrastructure in the UK. This is to support Openreach in retiring the old copper network, as customers move to higher-quality services.

Telecoms companies are rolling out full fibre broadband – which delivers a faster, more reliable service than connections that use copper lines – and it now reaches more than eight in 10 households across the UK, reports Ofcom. However, maintaining both copper and fibre infrastructure at the same time is costly and inefficient for Openreach. Retiring the copper network would free up resources that could instead be used to invest in network improvements or deliver lower prices over time.


In addition, the move to full fibre will mean better broadband with fewer dropouts and delays, enabling households and businesses up and down the country to do more online, driving growth and productivity.

In 2021, the media regulator decided that Openreach could stop offering broadband connections that use copper to new customers, in exchange areas where full fibre is available to 75 per cent of premises.

Earlier this year, Ofcom consulted on the next steps for our regulation of copper retirement. In particular, the point at which Openreach could change the wholesale price of copper or part-copper broadband to incentivise the migration of customers onto full-fibre packages instead.

Ofcom’s decisions

Currently, Openreach can begin to alter the wholesale prices of copper connections, at premises where full fibre is available, in exchange areas where ultrafast broadband (download speeds of >300mbit/s) is available to 100 per cent of premises.

Following an extensive consultation and careful analysis, Ofcom has decided that, subject to other criteria also being met, Openreach can begin to alter the wholesale prices of copper connections from April 1st 2029. This will apply only at premises where full fibre is available, in exchange areas where ultrafast broadband (download speeds of >300mbit/s) is available to 90 per cent 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. If the copper price cap is lifted, a charge control will apply to full-fibre connections.

“We expect broadband providers to support customers in finding a new deal for a better service. Evidence shows that people can switch to a full-fibre service and pay the same, or less, than they do for a connection that uses copper,” said Ofcom.