topic Re: Part fibre switch off? in Broadband

Part fibre switch off?

R0s1na6 — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 10:31:21 GMT

I'm currently on part fibre broadband, and Sky are badgering me to switch to full fibre broadband.

Do I have to do this? Will my phone & broadband still work after the January 2027 copper switch off?

Re: Part fibre switch off?

Deb3000 — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:08:58 GMT

In January the old PSTN phone service gets turned off nationally. PSTN was a separate service sharing the copper wire. The phone service will now become a digital service delivered as part of the broadband connection, albeit copper or fibre. Unfortunately, I believe Sky do not have the equipment available in all exchanges to do that change using copper, so the only alternative is to upgrade to fibre.

Re: Part fibre switch off?

R0s1na6 — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:19:56 GMT

Thanks for this. I was worried that Sky was just giving me the hard sell.

I'm surprised that there is no independent information reading this from e.g the government...

Re: Part fibre switch off?

Deb3000 — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:40:59 GMT

Yes, unfortunately, the main stream press just like to report panic stories, so it sells copy. The info is out there but more in the IT press. For example, you could try these articles for more info:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/06/new-report-examines-the-uks-public-switched-telephone-network-switch-off.html

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/07/openreach-says-1-5-million-uk-analogue-phone-lines-yet-to-make-digital-switch.html

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/06/openreach-says-no-big-bang-in-jan-2027-when-uk-analogue-phones-switch-off.html

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/08/45-percent-of-uk-landline-users-confused-by-analogue-phone-switch-off-survey-claims.html

Re: Part fibre switch off?

TimmyBGood — Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:49:00 GMT

@R0s1na6 wrote:

I'm surprised that there is no independent information reading this from e.g the government...

Government has been a little distracted recently ; )

The complication of Sky network limitations wouldn't be covered by general information anyway, although Sky themselves are frankly doing a really poor job of explaining it.