20th Jan 2025 06:40
(Alliance News) - BT Group's Openreach Ltd has announced a record number of new exchange locations where the business plans to halt the sale of traditional copper-based phone and broadband services.
The aim is to encourage people to upgrade to new digital services over an ultrafast Full Fibre connection.
Openreach announced 163 new exchange locations, covering more than 960,000 premises across the UK.
James Lilley of Openreach said: "We're moving to a digital world and Openreach is helping with that transformation by rolling out ultrafast, ultra-reliable, and future-proofed digital Full Fibre across the UK.
"This game changing technology will become the backbone of our economy for decades to come, supporting every aspect of our public services, businesses, industries and daily lives.
"Already, our Full Fibre network is available to more than 17 million homes and businesses, with more than 5.5 million premises currently taking a service.
"It makes no sense, both operationally and commercially, to keep the old copper network and our new fibre network running side-by-side.
"As copper's ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future proofed technologies."
BT class A shares had closed 1.2% higher at 142.30 pence each on Friday in London.
By Alan Jones, PA Industrial Correspondent
Press Association: Finance
source: PA
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