Openreach (BT) has today published the next batch of 112 exchanges (Tranche 25) – covering 554,918 premises – under their “FTTP Priority Exchange” stop sell programme. This reflects areas where over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre lines and will thus stop selling copper based legacy phone and broadband products (i.e. FTTP becomes the only product option, where available).
Currently, there are two schemes for moving away from old copper lines and services, which can sometimes cross over a bit. The first starts with the gradual migration of traditional legacy voice (PSTN / WLR) services to digital all-IP technologies (e.g. SOGEA), which is due to complete by 31st January 2027 and is occurring on both copper and full fibre products (i.e. ISPs are introducing digital voice / VoIP services). The national “stop sell” on legacy phone services began on 5th September 2023 (here).
NOTE: Openreach’s full fibre network currently covers over 23.5 million premises (66% of the UK), and they aim to reach 25 million (80%+) by the end of 2026, followed by an ambition for up to 30m by 2030 (subject to the right conditions).
The second “FTTP Priority Exchange” programme involves the ongoing rollout of gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) lines – using light signals via optical fibre instead of electrical signals via slow copper lines. Only after this second programme has largely completed (75%+ FTTP coverage) in an exchange area can you really start to completely switch-off copper-based products, which will come later as you have to allow lots of time for natural customer migrations.
Between the scrapping of legacy phone services, the full fibre rollout and the gradual switch away from copper lines themselves, this process will take several years in each area to complete, and the pace will vary (i.e. some areas have better coverage of Openreach’s full fibre lines than others). Just to be clear, though, premises that can’t yet get FTTP will continue to be served by copper-based broadband products.
NOTE: SOGEA (FTTC), SOTAP (ADSL2+) and SOGfast (G.fast) are all copper-based broadband-only products, where voice services can only be added as an optional digital IP / VoIP phone service (i.e. no analogue phones).
112 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 25)
In this programme, the migration process away from legacy services starts with a “no move back” policy (i.e. no going back to copper) for premises connected with FTTP, which is followed by a “stop-sell” of copper services to new customers (12-months of notice is given before this starts and that is what today’s list represents). This stage is then followed by a final “withdrawal” phase, but that comes later.
The stop sell is applied at premises level, so it shouldn’t impact you if you don’t yet have access to FTTP, although edge-case conflicts may still occur due to rare quirks of network availability. The 112 exchanges being confirmed today will take the total number of notified exchange stop sells to 2,213. The stop sell in today’s list will become effective in 12-months time on 20th August 2027.
James Lilley, Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, said:
“Our stop sell programme is a vital step in accelerating the UK’s transition to a modern full fibre future. As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future proofed technologies.”
By phasing out legacy copper-based services in areas where fibre is now widely available, we’re ensuring customers and providers move onto faster, more reliable, digital infrastructure. This approach not only reduces the cost and complexity of having to maintain both old and new networks but also supports the industry-wide migration ahead of the legacy copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) now just six months away, by which time everyone will need a digital phone line.”
Put another way, by 20th August 2027, ‘stop sell’ rules will have been activated in 1,572 exchanges across the UK – meaning around 15.4 million premises are under active Stop Sell, which is equal to 57% of Openreach’s total full fibre footprint (23.5 million THP).
NOTE: Openreach has around 5,600 exchanges. But hybrid fibre (FTTC, G.fast) and full fibre (FTTP) services are supplied via different exchanges (c.1,000 of that 5,600 total) and up to 4,600 will eventually close (after 2030) – see here, here, here, here and here.
The operator also has a Stop Sells Page on their website, which makes it easy to see all the planned changes. Otherwise, the following list is tentative, so changes and delays will occur (exchanges can and are often shifted around into different tranches).
112 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 25
Exchange Name
Exchange Location
Exchange Code
Order restriction implementation Date
Aberdaron (ADR)
Aberdaron
WNADR
20-Aug-27
Abergavenny (AG)
Abergavenny
SWAG
20-Aug-27
Abersoch (ABR)
Abersoch
WNASO
20-Aug-27
Alrewas (ADA)
Alrewas
EMALREW
20-Aug-27
Aston Clinton (ATC)
Aylesbury
SMAN
20-Aug-27
Ballygawley (BXW)
Tyrone
NIBGY
20-Aug-27
Barr (BJR)
Barr
WSBRR
20-Aug-27
Birchington
Margate
NDBIR
20-Aug-27
Birtley (BHI)
Chester-le-Street
NEBR
20-Aug-27
Black Torrington (QKT)
Sheepwash
WWBTOR
20-Aug-27
Blacklunans (QVQ)
Kirkmichael
ESBLL
20-Aug-27
Blakedown (QKW)
Blakedown
WMBLA
20-Aug-27
Blanchland (BIR)
Blanchland
NEBLA
20-Aug-27
Breadsall
Derby
EMBREAD
20-Aug-27
Brightlingsea (BON)
Brightlingsea
EABRI
20-Aug-27
Calder Valley (CVY)
Mytholmroyd
MYCAL
20-Aug-27
Catford (L/HIT)
Greater London – Lewisham
LSCTFD
20-Aug-27
Caversham (CAV)
Reading
THCV
20-Aug-27
Cerrig-Y-Drudion (CYD)
Cerrigydrudion
WNCYD
20-Aug-27
Charing (CEY)
Charing
NDCHA
20-Aug-27
Chinley (ZNL)
Chinley
MRCHI
20-Aug-27
Claverley (ZEL)
Claverley
CMCLA
20-Aug-27
Craven Arms (CNZ)
Craven Arms
WNCRA
20-Aug-27
Cwm (ZWM)
Cwm
SWZWM
20-Aug-27
Dalbeattie (DFM)
Dalbeattie
WSDAL
20-Aug-27
Dalmellington (DFR)
Dalmellington
WSDAM
20-Aug-27
Dinas Powys (DPW)
Dinas Powis
SWDPW
20-Aug-27
Drewsteignton (DTK)
Drewsteignton
WWDREW
20-Aug-27
Edenbridge
Edenbridge
NDEDE
20-Aug-27
Edmundbyers (EJG)
Edmondbyers
NEEB
20-Aug-27
Flitwick
Ampthill
SMFK
20-Aug-27
Gargrave (GAD)
Gargrave
MYGRG
20-Aug-27
Garrabost (GRB)
Garrabost
NSGBT
20-Aug-27
Gartocharn (GTQ)
Gartocharn
WSGAR
20-Aug-27
Glynneath (GBG)
Glyn-neath
SWGBG
20-Aug-27
Grange-Over-Sands (GCD)
Grange-over-Sands
LCGOS
20-Aug-27
Halsall (FAQ)
Halsall
LCHAS
20-Aug-27
Ham Street (HBS)
Hamstreet
NDHST
20-Aug-27
Hayle (HGM)
Hayle
WWHAYL
20-Aug-27
Helston (HHS)
Helston
WWHELS
20-Aug-27
Himbleton (HTE)
Droitwich
WMHIM
20-Aug-27
Hipperholme
Brighouse
MYHIP
20-Aug-27
Holme Lacy (FLI)
Hampton Bishop
WNHL
20-Aug-27
Holmer Green (FGR)
High Wycombe
SMHGN
20-Aug-27
Huby
Huby (Harrogate)
MYHUB
20-Aug-27
Hunstanton (HNU)
Hunstanton
EAHNS
20-Aug-27
Hylton
Sunderland
NEHYL
20-Aug-27
Ibrox
Glasgow
WSIBR
20-Aug-27
Kinloch Rannoch (KRH)
Kinloch Rannoch
ESKLR
20-Aug-27
Kinnerton (KRU)
Higher Kinnerton
WNKT
20-Aug-27
Kirkoswald (KOW)
Kirkoswald
WSKKO
20-Aug-27
Langbank (LPR)
Langbank
WSLAB
20-Aug-27
Lewdown (LXD)
Lewdown
WWLWDN
20-Aug-27
Little Brampton (UTB)
Aston on Clun
WNLIT
20-Aug-27
Loanhead (EH/LSF)
Loanhead
ESLOA
20-Aug-27
Lochmaben (LSU)
Lochmaben
WSLON
20-Aug-27
Longton
Longton
LCLOT
20-Aug-27
Longtown (LNC)
Longtown
LCLOG
20-Aug-27
Low Moor
Bradford
MYLOW
20-Aug-27
Lydd (LOR)
Lydd
NDLYD
20-Aug-27
Maesycrugiau (MYU)
Llanllwni
SWMYU
20-Aug-27
March (MZ)
March
EMMAARC
20-Aug-27
Mary Tavy (MYY)
Tavistock
WWMTVY
20-Aug-27
Mattishall (MHL)
Mattishall
EAMTS
20-Aug-27
Melrosegate
York
MYMSG
20-Aug-27
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
EMMELTN
20-Aug-27
Millport (MNV)
Millport
WSMIT
20-Aug-27
Morchard Bishop (MLN)
Morchard Bishop
WWMBSH
20-Aug-27
Mountfield (MZZ)
Tyrone
NIMFD
20-Aug-27
Nantwich (NX)
Nantwich
WMNAN
20-Aug-27
Newborough (NVU)
Newborough (City of Peterborough)
EMNEBOR
20-Aug-27
Newport Dyfed (NDO)
Newport (Pembrokeshire)
SWNDO
20-Aug-27
Northolt
Greater London – Hillingdon
LWNOR
20-Aug-27
P.G.Newark (PG)
Port Glasgow
WSPTN
20-Aug-27
Padiham
Burnley
LCPAD
20-Aug-27
Piercebridge (PDF)
Merrybent
NEPG
20-Aug-27
Poundsgate (PNZ)
Ashburton
WWPOUN
20-Aug-27
Reading Tilehurst (TLH)
Reading
THTT
20-Aug-27
Rhydlewis (RLS)
Rhydlewis
SWRLS
20-Aug-27
Ribbleton
Preston (Lancashire)
LCRIB
20-Aug-27
Ripponden (RDV)
Ripponden
MYRPP
20-Aug-27
Rowstock
Didcot
SMROW
20-Aug-27
Sellindge (SFO)
Brabourne Lees
NDSEL
20-Aug-27
Shanklin (SFY)
Shanklin
SDSHNKL
20-Aug-27
Shelsley Beauchamp (SMN)
Clifton upon Teme
WMSHB
20-Aug-27
Silkstone
Silkstone Common
SLSKT
20-Aug-27
Silverstone (SSI)
Silverstone
EMSILVE
20-Aug-27
Skelmersdale (SKG)
Skelmersdale
LVSKE
20-Aug-27
South Godstone (XGO)
South Godstone
NDSGO
20-Aug-27
South Shields
South Shields
NESS
20-Aug-27
St Boswells (SXD)
St Boswells
ESSTB
20-Aug-27
Stoke Trinity (STK)
Stoke-on-Trent
WMSTK
20-Aug-27
Straiton (SQO)
Straiton
WSSTT
20-Aug-27
Strathaven (SXX)
Strathaven
WSSTN
20-Aug-27
Stroud (SD)
Stroud
SSSTD
20-Aug-27
Swynnerton (SYN)
Swynnerton
WMSWY
20-Aug-27
Talywain (TAJ)
Newport (Newport)
SWTAJ
20-Aug-27
Thorney (TCL)
Thorney
EMTHRNY
20-Aug-27
Tickhill
Bircotes
SLTKL
20-Aug-27
Timsgarry (TIJ)
Timsgarry
NSTIM
20-Aug-27
Tintern (TDE)
Mynydd-bach
SWTDE
20-Aug-27
Tonyrefail (TRF)
Tonyrefail
SWTRF
20-Aug-27
Turgis Green (TUJ)
Basingstoke
THTG
20-Aug-27
Uplawmoor (ULM)
Uplawmoor
WSUPL
20-Aug-27
Wadebridge (WAC)
Wadebridge
WWWADE
20-Aug-27
Weedon (WDR)
Weedon Bec
EMWEDDO
20-Aug-27
Wemyss Bay (WRD)
Inverkip
WSWEM
20-Aug-27
Whiddon Down (VDX)
North Tawton
WWWDWN
20-Aug-27
Whitworth (WIF)
Whitworth
LCWHW
20-Aug-27
Winkleigh (WKI)
Winkleigh
WWWKLH
20-Aug-27
Worfield (WFQ)
Bridgnorth
CMWOR
20-Aug-27
Wroughton (WPW)
Wroughton
SSWGN
20-Aug-27