topic Re: Copper Switch Off in Broadband

Copper Switch Off

heatherdawn — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:54:41 GMT

Hi.

I live in Warminster, Wiltshire and I'm still using an old copper phone line connection for my Sky broadband.

These copper lines are of course due to be disconnected at the start of next year but I've heard nothing from Sky to say when I'll get fibre installed.

Time is running out and I will contact Sky but any thoughts from yourselves on here?

Thanks.

Re: Copper Switch Off

caesarome — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:58:13 GMT

@heatherdawn

Sky will contact you when you are due an upgrade to fibre due to the cooper line being withdrawn so if you are happy then just stay as you are, otherwise have you looked at your account to see if fibre upgrade options are showing for you:

https://www.sky.com/broadband

Re: Copper Switch Off

Me134 — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:39:17 GMT

@heatherdawn wrote:
Hi.

I live in Warminster, Wiltshire and I'm still using an old copper phone line connection for my Sky broadband.

These copper lines are of course due to be disconnected at the start of next year but I've heard nothing from Sky to say when I'll get fibre installed.

Time is running out and I will contact Sky but any thoughts from yourselves on here?

Thanks.

It's the PTSN (public switched telephone network) that's getting turned off next year (maybe), you may be on FTTC (fibre to the cabinet) which still uses the copper pair from the cabinet in the street.

Re: Copper Switch Off

TimmyBGood — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 18:04:57 GMT

@heatherdawn wrote:

These copper lines are of course due to be disconnected at the start of next year

As @Me134 indicates, that's not correct. There's considerable confusion on this issue, largely because the target date for the endpoint of the commercial phase of the national Openreach FTTP deployment now coincides with the twice delayed* PSTN (analogue voice service) switch-off, despite these not actually being the same project.

Given that full-fibre will still not be within reach of at least 15% of UK addresses by 'the start of next year' (and is actually connected in far fewer of them) it's clear that discontinuing broadband over copper entirely is still a long way off: many millions of properties would be left without service if it happened now.

*PSTN was originally scheduled to end in December 2025

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9471/

Re: Copper Switch Off

heatherdawn — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:40:29 GMT

Thanks for clarifying.

I'm on Sky Broadband Superfast which will be FTTC.

Just to be sure, will my broadband continue to be delivered via copper wire next year and beyond if I don't upgrade to fibre?

Thanks.

Re: Copper Switch Off

TimmyBGood — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:55:09 GMT

@heatherdawn wrote:

Just to be sure, will my broadband continue to be delivered via copper wire next year and beyond if I don't upgrade to fibre?

In most cases, yes.

In some exchange areas Sky doesn't have the equipment to provide Sky Talk Internet Calls over FTTC, so current customers there need to either move to FTTP if that's available locally or switch to a different ISP.

Re: Copper Switch Off

Me134 — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 17:20:44 GMT

@TimmyBGood wrote:
@heatherdawn wrote:

Just to be sure, will my broadband continue to be delivered via copper wire next year and beyond if I don't upgrade to fibre?

In most cases, yes.

In some exchange areas Sky doesn't have the equipment to provide Sky Talk Internet Calls over FTTC, so current customers there need to either move to FTTP if that's available locally or switch to a different ISP.

If they don't need or use the landline, would Sky be happy for now at least to continue with the FTTC in that scenario?

Re: Copper Switch Off

TimmyBGood — Mon, 15 Jun 2026 18:00:02 GMT

@Me134

Apparently not. I suspect Sky administration and billing systems are inherently linked to the phone number assigned to the circuit.