Openreach is accelerating their plans for FTTP rollout to a further 118 exchanges by June 2021, with circa 1.2m more premises gaining gain access to game-changing high speed, Single Order fibre broadband.
The PSTN switch off is a once in a generation shift in connectivity and voice services, which will create massive opportunities for UK businesses. Superfast and reliable connectivity into the premises will be the driver for all business functions, with communication, collaboration, streaming, downloading and working on multiple devices, all at once, without interruptions or delay.
As part of the nationwide fibre deployment, Openreach will be rolling out FTTP exchanges and Stop Sell policies of legacy copper services and technology, starting in the medieval cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire.
Salisbury will be the first entire city in the UK to gain full access to future-proof FTTP broadband technology. The roll out across the exchange will result in over 20,000 businesses and homes gaining access to future-proof, full fibre broadband with speeds of up to 1Gbps.
In December 2020, a Stop Sell policy will come into force in Salisbury, meaning premises that have access to FTTP will no longer be able to buy copper services from local or national providers. The Stop Sell includes a no-move back to copper, meaning any services migrating over to new all IP solutions will not be able to move back. The Stop Sell policy will be an accelerator and driver for the migration to fibre services in the city.
The Salisbury FTTP rollout will be a fantastic benefit to the city, giving businesses the ability to power full IP services, take their products and services online, improve customer experience and collaboration and reach a wider audience.
The success of the Salisbury rollout will be used as a benchmark to expand the deployment of FTTP services further and prepare businesses for the PSTN switch off across the UK. Openreach will continue to run similar FTTP trials until 2022 before a national Stop Sell of copper products in 2023. From this point, all new orders will be need to be placed onto Single Order fibre connectivity solutions, with voice and other solutions, such as cloud and security, added as Over The Top (OTT) services.
For more information about how Digital Wholesale Solutions can support partners in preparing for the PSTN Switch Off and digital transformation, please get in touch.
