Openreach List 238 More UK Areas for Copper to Full Fibre Switch – Tranche 24
Openreach (BT) has today published a huge batch of 238 exchanges (Tranche 24) – covering 1.69 million premises – under their “FTTP Priority Exchange” stop sell programme, which 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 it’s 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).
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.
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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.
238 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 24)
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 238 exchanges confirmed today will take the total number of exchange upgrades that, by 5th June 2026, have already been placed under active “stop sell” rules to 1,432 (equating to 14.2m premises or 61% of Openreach’s total full fibre footprint).
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 under eight months away, by which time everyone will need a digital phone line.”
The stop sell in today’s list will become effective in 12-months time.
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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).
238 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 24
| Exchange Name | Exchange Location |
| Farnsfield | Newark-on-Trent |
| Quorn | Barrow upon Soar |
| Sileby | Sileby |
| Tibshelf | Tibshelf |
| Layton | Blackpool |
| Hetton Le Hole | Hetton-le-Hole |
| Marton | Blackpool |
| Pinxton | South Normanton |
| Spofforth | Spofforth |
| Cudworth | Cudworth |
| New Ollerton | New Ollerton |
| Rottingdean | Saltdean |
| Castle Donington | Castle Donington |
| Blidworth | Rainworth |
| North Carlton | Carlton in Lindrick |
| Jarrow (JW) | Jarrow |
| Bilsthorpe | Bilsthorpe |
| Illingworth | Halifax |
| Strensall | Strensall |
| Harefield | Greater London – Hillingdon |
| Cosham | Portsmouth |
| Donnington | Telford |
| Ramsbottom (RAR) | Greater Manchester – Bury |
| Shettleston | Glasgow |
| Brediland | Paisley |
| Filton (FIO) | Filton |
| Dudley | Dudley (Dudley) |
| Cheetham | Greater Manchester – Manchester |
| Dinsdale | Middleton St George |
| Garston | Watford |
| New Oakley | Oakley (Fife) |
| Bingley | Bingley |
| Maltby | Maltby |
| Upton Park | Greater London – Newham |
| Markyate | Markyate |
| Potters Bar | Potters Bar |
| Churchdown | Innsworth |
| Pollok | Glasgow |
| Shawbury | Shawbury |
| Polmont | Polmont |
| Brierley Hill | Brierley Hill |
| Epping | Epping |
| Cowley | Oxford |
| Wembley | Greater London – Brent |
| Strood | Rochester |
| Scotstoun | Glasgow |
| Dunfermline | Dunfermline |
| Headington | Oxford |
| Halifax | Halifax |
| Parsons Green | Greater London – Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Haworth (HFW) | Haworth |
| Darwen | Darwen |
| Radcliffe On Trent | Nottingham |
| Cuckoo Oak | Telford |
| Newton Mearns | Newton Mearns |
| Farnworth (FAX) | Greater Manchester – Bolton |
| East Herrington | Sunderland |
| Earl Shilton | Earl Shilton |
| Atherstone (AH) | Atherstone |
| Winterbourne | Bristol |
| Braunstone | Leicester |
| Kenilworth | Kenilworth |
| Collyhurst | Greater Manchester – Manchester |
| Wigton | Wigton |
| Jedburgh | Jedburgh |
| Wester Hailes | Edinburgh |
| Langside | Glasgow |
| Godalming | Godalming |
| Norwich City | Norwich |
| Aberdeen Kingswells (CPO) | Westhill |
| Welwyn (WEP) | Welwyn |
| Hurley (HYU) | Atherstone |
| Wareham (WCG) | Wareham |
| Maryport (MJ) | Maryport |
| Cleator Moor (CJB) | Cleator Moor |
| Farndon (FAR) | Farndon (Cheshire West and Chester) |
| Mold West (MLG/WT) | Pantymwyn |
| Braintree (BME) | Braintree |
| Ridgewell (REW) | Ridgewell |
| Saint Osyth (SCI) | St Osyth |
| Moreton Morrell (MXL) | Lighthorne |
| Slade Green (L/SG) | Greater London – Bexley |
| Gravesend (GRV) | Gravesend |
| Repton (RCL) | Repton |
| Castle Douglas (CSE) | Castle Douglas |
| Annan (AIM) | Annan |
| Lanchester (LAM) | Lanchester |
| Cockfield (CKJ) | Cockfield |
| Rushyford (RYF) | Chilton (County Durham) |
| Epworth (EDX) | Epworth |
| Finningley (FGY) | Finningley |
| Ranskill (RKL) | Ranskill |
| Keadby (KKB) | Keadby |
| Bewdley (BFX) | Bewdley |
| North Berwick (NIC) | North Berwick |
| Walkerburn (WRE) | Walkerburn |
| Drymen (DGU) | Drymen |
| Killearn (KLN) | Killearn |
| Falfield (FAD) | Charfield |
| Coleford (CKN) | Coleford (Gloucestershire) |
| Bredon (BDT) | Bredon |
| Alton (AN) | Alton (East Hampshire) |
| Southwold (SOF) | Reydon |
| Mauchline (MNK) | Mauchline |
| Lochgelly (LSP) | Lochgelly |
| Kirkby Lonsdale (KDD) | Kirkby Lonsdale |
| Oakham (OK) | Oakham |
| Narborough (NAG) | Leicester |
| Wrexham North (WX/N) | Wrexham |
| Ruthin (RGH) | Ruthin |
| Tynygongl (TGQ) | Benllech |
| Stow (XTY) | Sturton by Stow |
| Barwick In Elmet (QRT) | Barwick in Elmet |
| Bearsted (BES) | Maidstone |
| Woburn Sands (WSD) | Woburn Sands |
| Great Barford (GBK) | Great Barford |
| Forth (FTT) | Forth |
| Tinto (SMW) | Symington |
| Burnopfield (BTZ) | Burnopfield |
| Ebchester (ESR) | Chopwell |
| Bedlington (BDN) | Bedlington |
| Dudley (DYE) | Cramlington |
| Corbridge (CME) | Corbridge |
| Tuxford (TGE) | Tuxford |
| West Haddon (WFS) | West Haddon |
| Bozeat (BQZ) | Wollaston |
| Machen (MAD) | Caerphilly |
| Swanton Morley (XEC) | Swanton Morley |
| Martham (MHA) | Martham |
| Terrington St John (TSJ) | Tilney St Lawrence |
| Warboys (WBZ) | Warboys |
| St. Michaels (SML) | St Michael’s on Wyre |
| Burghfield Common (QBF) | Burghfield Common |
| Stocksbridge (XJG) | Stocksbridge |
| Bishopston (QTI) | Murton (Swansea) |
| Glantawe (GLN) | Ystradgynlais |
| Crynant (ZNT) | Crynant |
| Pencader (PEC) | Pencader |
| Pembroke (PM) | Pembroke Dock |
| Knebworth (KEB) | Knebworth |
| Wilmslow (WJF) | Wilmslow |
| Chapel En Le Frith (CES) | Chapel-en-le-Frith |
| Corsham (CMK) | Corsham |
| Borth (BKE) | Borth |
| Henlade (HNL) | Creech St Michael |
| Hawick (HK) | Hawick |
| Heathfield (HJV) | Heathfield (East Sussex) |
| Castleham (HCA) | Hastings |
| Camborne (CAZ) | Camborne |
| Wychbold (WYG) | Wychbold |
| Whitby (WB) | Whitby |
| Needham (NK) | Needham Market |
| Watton Dummy (VAO) | Hutton Cranswick |
| Holme On Spalding Moor (HKA) | Holme-on-Spalding-Moor |
| Holbrook (HJW) | Holbrook |
| Hightown (LV/HIG) | Hightown |
| Caerleon (CAA) | Newport (Newport) |
| Cockermouth (CZ) | Cockermouth |
| Hebden Bridge (HHF) | Hebden Bridge |
| Otham (OTM) | Maidstone |
| Gourock (GHU) | Gourock |
| Folkestone (FO) | Folkestone |
| Harrington (HDH) | Workington |
| Pentyrch (PTY) | Taff’s Well |
| Ferndale (FBX) | Ferndale |
| Scartho (SCO) | Grimsby |
| Birchwood (BCD) | Lincoln |
| Corby (ZVY) | Corby |
| Bloxham (BJF) | Bloxham |
| Clydach (CJW) | Swansea |
| Keswick (KAP) | Keswick (Allerdale) |
| Nelson (NSN) | Nelson (Caerphilly) |
| Measham (MSM) | Measham |
| Ambleside (ADP) | Ambleside |
| Cinderford (CIN) | Cinderford |
| Treharris (TEZ) | Treharris |
| Llanfairfechan (LKU) | Llanfairfechan |
| Amble (ADN) | Amble |
| Mundesley (MUY) | Mundesley |
| Broseley (BOS) | Broseley |
| Flookburgh (FLJ) | Flookburgh |
| Brackley (BLO) | Brackley |
| Penclawdd (PBL) | Crofty |
| Hassocks (HSA) | Hurstpierpoint |
| Braithwaite (BMG) | Braithwaite |
| Cardigan (CG) | Cardigan |
| Tenbury Wells (TY) | Tenbury Wells |
| Waltham (WBC) | Waltham |
| Hexham (HZ) | Hexham |
| Swanage (SWK) | Swanage |
| Washingborough (WBO) | Washingborough |
| Norwich West (NC/C) | Norwich |
| Tiptree (TDK) | Tiptree |
| Leabrooks (UBK) | Alfreton |
| Belper (BEW) | Belper |
| Welwyn Garden (L/WG) | Welwyn Garden City |
| Mablethorpe (MBT) | Mablethorpe |
| Heckington (HHH) | Heckington |
| Stottesdon (STD) | Stottesdon |
| Penybont (PYT) | Crossgates |
| Machrie (MAT) | Auchencar |
| Pilling (PLL) | Stake Pool |
| Trefeglwys (TRS) | Caersws |
| Tummelbridge (TBI) | Tummel Bridge |
| Capel (CAP) | Holmwood |
| Cotheridge (CZK) | Worcester |
| Hanmer (HMQ) | Wrexham |
| Bratton Clovelly (YBC) | Bratton Clovelly |
| Temple (TPU) | Temple |
| Auchengray (AUR) | Breich |
| Kilcreggan (KER) | Kilcreggan |
| Pilning (PNG) | Severn Beach |
| Menmuir (MUR) | Balhall |
| Auchenmalg (AUM) | Auchenmalg |
| Buchlyvie (QOG) | Buchlyvie |
| Aberfoyle (AYL) | Aberfoyle |
| Arden (ADF) | Gartocharn |
| Canon Pyon (ZPN) | Wellington (County of Herefordshire) |
| Back (BKX) | Bac |
| Dalchreichart (DHR) | Glen Moriston |
| Craigie (ZBV) | Kilmarnock |
| Crosshill (CCI) | Crosshill |
| Latheron (LQT) | Latheronwheel |
| Llanfairtalhaiarn (LKT) | Llanfair Talhaiarn |
| Great Whittington (GWT) | Great Whittington |
| Hartburn (HBN) | Morpeth |
| Penhow (PHX) | Newport (Newport) |
| Nantyderry (NTD) | Penperlleni |
| Madderty (MZY) | St David’s |
| Cairngorm (CGM) | Aviemore |
| Plaistow (PTW) | Plaistow |
| Dormans Park (DPK) | Dormans Park |
| Llangennith (UGI) | Llangennith |
| Cynghordy (ZYY) | Llandovery |
| Hilderstone (HRE) | Stone (Stafford) |
| Cressage (COD) | Cressage |
| Cleehillstone (ZAE) | Cleehill |
| Dunscore (DZC) | Dunscore |
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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“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”. From what I’ve seen round here the fibre installers are usually routinely removing the copper drop wire so going back to copper would be awkward (we are not yet in a stop sell area). Not that can imagine many would want to.
I’m interested they are removing the copper drops.
My house has next door’s copper drops on the front it and I’d love them gone…
why isn’t there a blanket rule that as soon as fttp is available, copper cannot be installed? (with maybe a few exceptions for extreme cases)
That’s more or less what the FTTP Priority Exchange Stop Sell is. However, BT Group is strictly regulated and has to do things in a way that is acceptable to Ofcom. When an exchange area reaches at least 75% FTTP coverage, there is a Stop Sell for metal lines. Openreach chooses to notify the Stop Sells in large groups rather than one exchange at a time. It also gives 12 months notice of the Stop Sell.
One thing that I have never seen explained though is the significance of 75%. Why not 90%, 80% or 70%? Does anyone know the answer to that?
It is still as daft as hell to do it be exchange rather them by premise. You have FTTP available to the property, then no go back. I would go some to say a whole range of faults should be fixed by switching to fibre. For example drop wire from pole knackered, its fibre for you. Will be easier when the POTS network is retired come January.
Phil2
Yes, fair point, what’s so special about 75%…
Equally why is 30mn customers their ambition when UK has about 70mn people so much less than 50% ?
Do they really expect Project Gigabit to do the other 50% that OR didn’t cherry pick?
You’re conflating population and premises. 30 million customers is around 95%.
When is open reach coming into South London mainly Wandsworth sw18
This means very little, at least in my experience, where openreach upgraded the street conduits, the exchange got upgraded, but they’ve still to do the last part of upgrading to the houses. “Available to order soon” has been sitting for 8months and still no progress or plans lodged with council for further (street) works. Contact openreach and you get no response. Better off (if you can) going with Starlink at this point. There’s a lack of transparency with openreach and these lists of exchange upgrades are always pushed as an indicator of progress, but the last quarter mile is what makes the difference.
Openreach won’t, or more specifically can’t, connect a property until an order is placed from an ISP. This article is about areas where FTTP is predominantly available to order.Your situation sounds like an anomaly.
When I made this comment, let’s just say on behalf of my rural village, and not just myself. The entire village can’t order via ISP’s FTTP despite the work already being done. To further add to this Openreach have repeatedly responded to requests with dates it will go live, and these then pass, to then have a new date set with no information. This moving goalpost has went on for 3years.
Whats the logic to the order of these lists?
They are never in either Exchange Name or Exchange Location order.
My Rural Gloucestershire Exchange is on this list. I keep a very close eye on how many, BT FTTP conections are installed localy. At the moment, there are negligible BT FTTP connections, and some FTTC connections. So the majority, of BT connections are still Copper. It will be interesting to see how long BT-Openreach take to fully complete FTTP installations, here. I suspect it will takke a long time, far longer than many people think…
I would have thought that OpenReach have a further compulsory phase in mind, e.g. once an exchange area has been in stop-sell for (say, pulling a random number out of my hat) five years, then they would force any DSL customers who can get FTTP to move to FTTP. Perhaps once the initial mass national rollout of FTTP starts to slow down and the rate of installs drops and they have excess domestic installer capacity they start rolling phases like this. Just a guess…
I suspect that also, once PSTN has been withdrawn, they will focus more on the transition to FTTP.
Assuming Ofcom allows it, OR will make it gradually more and more expensive to be on copper connections compared to FTTP and that should accelerate the voluntary transition.
However, given how poorly the PSTN transition has gone and how non-technical members of the public don’t really get the difference between FTTP and FTTC there may be more need for a stronger forcing function.
Openreach will implement a stop sell when they judge an exchange’s area to have 75%+ FTTP coverage. Does that mean 75%+ Openreach FTTP coverage or can the coverage come wholly or partly from altnets?
It is 75% or more Openreach FTTP coverage. Obviously, Openreach won’t refuse to provide an Openreach product just because a customer can get FTTP from a rival company.
Thanks. I live on an estate where at present Hyperoptic is the sole FTTP provider but FTTC is available through a number of ISPs. Openreach don’t seem very interested in cabling up the estate to provide a FTTP alternative to Hyperoptic – responses from them have varied from ‘we are building in your area’ through ‘we have completed our build in your area’ to ‘there is a delay…’ – and this raises another question. If Openreach issues a Stop Sell on my exchange once the exchange area is 75% with Hyperoptic still the only FTTP provider on my estate, can Openreach refuse new/renewed FTTC contracts on the grounds that we have FTTP from Hyperoptic and should use them or do Openreach have to continue permitting FTTC on my estate until they have cabled it up for FTTP? My concern is that we could end up with Hyperoptic as a monopoly ISP.
“The stop sell is applied at premises level, so it shouldn’t impact you if you don’t yet have access to FTTP”
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2026/05/openreach-list-238-more-uk-areas-for-copper-to-full-fibre-switch-tranche-24.html
Where is the latest list?