Openreach to switch off landlines in 5 North Wales locations

The communication company is in the process of getting rid of traditional copper-based phone and broadband services in the UK.

This is to encourage people to upgrade to new digital services using an ultrafast Full Fibre connection.

This is all part of its 'Stop Sell' programme.

How does Openreach's 'Stop Sell' programme work?

'Stop Sell' is triggered when a majority (75%) of premises connected to a particular exchange can get ultrafast Full Fibre.

Customers who then want to switch, upgrade, or re-grade their broadband or phone service will have to get a new digital service over Openreach's new Full Fibre network.

Customers in these areas not yet able to get ultrafast Full Fibre won't be impacted and can stay on their existing copper-based service until Full Fibre becomes available.

Openreach has given providers, including Sky, BT, TalkTalk, and Vodafone, a year’s notice that it will no longer be selling legacy analogue products and services where Full Fibre becomes available to a majority (more than 75%) of premises in these exchange locations.

By February 14, ‘Stop Sell’ rules will have been activated in 1,281 exchanges across the UK, impacting around 12.5 million premises.

By February 14, ‘Stop Sell’ rules will have been activated in 1,281 exchanges across the UK. (Image: PA)

New locations in North Wales where Openreach plans to scrap traditional landlines

Openreach announced 94 areas in the UK where 'Stop Sell' had already been triggered late last year, affecting around 960,000 households.

This list included 12 exchanges in Wales (five of which were located in North Wales):

• Llanwnda (Groeslon)
• Pentraeth (Pentraeth)
• Botwnnog (Botwnnog)
• Tynygroes (Colwyn Bay)
• Llanpumsaint (Llanpumsaint)
• Cemmaes Road (Cemmaes)
• Penarth (Penarth)
• Abergynolwyn (Twywn)
• Gower (Reynoldston)
• Newport Chartist (Newport)
• Bethesda (Bethesda)
• Abercynon (Abercynon)

Another 132 new exchanges have recently been notified that 'Stop Sell' has been triggered in their area, with more than 1.23 million properties impacted.

The full list of these exchanges, and their locations, can be seen on the map below.

The new list from Openreach features another five exchanges in North Wales:

• Trearddur Bay - TRR (Trearddur)
• Moelfre - MFE (Moelfre)
• Rossett - RFB (Rossett)
• Glyndwr - GFY (Carrog)
• Corwen​ (Corwen)

Households in these areas can now upgrade to ultrafast Full Fibre, making the traditional copper-based phone and broadband services redundant.

People can use the Openreach postcode checker to see if they have access to Full Fibre.

Openreach’s Managed Customer Migrations Director, James Lilley, said: “Our stop sell programme is a vital step in accelerating the UK’s transition to a modern full fibre future.

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Virgin Media O2 to shut off service after 20 years as it issues final warning
• Sky issues new 'dodgy' Fire Stick warning as it works on 'significant' crackdown
• Virgin Media O2 offering £100s for old gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox

"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 over 12-months away, by which time everyone will need a digital phone line.”