Openreach has announced a further 51 UK exchange locations, covering circa 0.51m premises, as part of its programme to upgrade the analogue phone network to all-IP.
The move brings the total number of exchange locations where Openreach plans to stop selling legacy analogue services in the next 12 months to 169.
In June the company gave 12 months notice that it will no longer be selling copper-based products in 118 exchange areas across the UK including Salisbury, an early pilot where legacy copper-based products will no longer being available from December 2020.
Mark Logan, Director, Products at Openreach said: “We’re stepping up our plans to stop selling our legacy analogue services and instead focus on providing people with a modern, future proof full fibre connection that can deliver all manner of new digital services over the top.
"Our recently updated target to build full fibre broadband to 4.5m homes and businesses by end of March 2021 is part of our accelerated build plan and has enabled migration efforts to also be brought forward.
"Full fibre technology (or FTTP) will be available to more than 75% of homes in these 51 new locations by October 2021. It makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old and new network running side-by-side."