Openreach Copper Phone Order Changes Hit Three Areas: Glasgow 2026

Key Points

• Three local telephone exchange areas in and around Glasgow—Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps—have been included in Openreach’s latest nationwide infrastructure update.
• The announcement introduces “stop sell” order restrictions that prevent providers from selling legacy copper-based phone and broadband products once Full Fibre coverage reaches 75% of premises in an exchange area.
• Customers in the affected regions who seek to switch internet service providers, upgrade existing packages, or amend services will be automatically transitioned to modern digital alternatives.
• The local changes form part of Openreach’s Tranche 26 rollout, encompassing 112 new exchange locations across the UK, with restrictions set to take full effect in late 2027.
• Industry leaders emphasise that retiring the ageing copper network is essential to prepare the nation for the full closure of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and transition to IP-based digital voice technology.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) October 2026 — Glasgow is preparing for a major transition to its telecommunications infrastructure as three local telephone exchange areas face upcoming restrictions on traditional copper-based phone and internet lines. As reported by Stacey Mullen of the Glasgow Times, the exchange areas of Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps have been formally named in Openreach’s latest nationwide expansion phase designed to phase out legacy copper networks. Under the new operational mandate, telecommunications providers will no longer be permitted to sell legacy copper broadband or traditional analogue telephone services once full fibre coverage reaches a 75 per cent threshold across premises in those specific exchange locations. Existing users who intend to switch service providers, order new connections, or alter their current service packages will be required to move onto ultrafast full fibre digital connections instead.

What is the Openreach ‘Stop Sell’ Policy and How Does it Function?

The framework governing this transition operates under Openreach’s formal “stop sell” protocol, an industry mechanism designed to accelerate the retirement of the UK’s copper network. Once an exchange area attains a minimum of 75 per cent Full Fibre availability across its premises, Openreach issues a 12-month advance notice to internet service providers. Upon reaching the designated deadline, legacy copper-based services—including standard ADSL, Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC), and traditional analogue landline connections—are restricted from further sale or modification.

As reported by Mark Jackson of ISPreview, the three Glasgow exchange locations—Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps—form part of Openreach’s latest Tranche 26 announcement, which encompasses 112 new exchange locations across the UK. The order restrictions for this latest tranche are scheduled to come into force on 4 November 2027, giving communication providers and local residents a 12-month implementation window to prepare for the shift.

Why is Openreach Phasing Out the UK’s Legacy Copper Infrastructure?

The nationwide phasing out of copper infrastructure stems from the increasing physical fragility and technological limitations of the original copper wire framework. As reported by James Lilley, Managed Customer Migrations Director at Openreach, in an official statement:

“Our stop sell programme is a key step in accelerating the UK’s move to a full fibre future. As ageing copper networks become less able to meet modern communications needs, our focus is on helping customers move to faster, more reliable digital technologies.”

Lilley further stated:

“Retiring legacy copper services where fibre is widely available will support the industry-wide migration to modern networks, reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining old and new infrastructure side by side, and help ensure customers are ready for the closure of the PSTN in less than four months’ time, when everyone will need a digital phone service.”

The physical limitations of copper connections mean that signal strength degrades over distance, whereas full fibre technology utilizes glass fibre optic cables to send light signals directly into homes and commercial properties. This fundamental difference provides significantly higher download speeds, lower latency, and greater resilience against environmental factors such as flooding or severe weather conditions.

How Does the Regional Upgrade Impact the Wider UK Digital Rollout?

The inclusion of Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps reflects the broader momentum of the UK’s digital infrastructure overhaul. By 5 November 2026, stop sell restrictions will already be active across 1,663 exchanges nationwide, covering approximately 16.4 million premises. With the addition of the 112 locations announced in Tranche 26, the total number of notified stop sell exchanges across the UK, including early trial sites, has reached 2,325.

Openreach continues to work towards the broader target set by the UK Government to make gigabit-capable broadband accessible to more than 99 per cent of the country by 2032, alongside its commercial target of reaching up to 30 million premises by the end of the decade.

Background of the Glasgow Telecommunications Transition

The transition across Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps is rooted in a multi-year national strategy to decommission the UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an analogue infrastructure that has supported landline telephone communications for over a century.

Historically, analogue landlines operated through direct electrical currents carried via copper cabling, powered directly from local exchange buildings. However, maintaining the physical components and sourcing replacement parts for decades-old electromechanical and analogue exchange hardware has become increasingly unsustainable for telecommunication operators.

To address these vulnerabilities, the UK telecommunications industry initiated a coordinated retirement strategy to replace analogue lines with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) digital voice services. Under this system, telephone calls are routed over internet protocol connections rather than dedicated analogue voice channels. Openreach’s stop sell programme was introduced as an incremental operational measure to prevent customers from continually signing up to legacy services that are scheduled for total retirement, ensuring a structured migration towards full fibre networks.

Prediction: How This Development Will Affect Local Residents and Businesses

The upcoming implementation of copper order restrictions in Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps will directly influence household decisions, local commercial operations, and vulnerable groups across these three Glasgow areas.

Impact on Residential Consumers

For standard households in the affected areas, the operational changes will not instantly disconnect existing working copper lines. Residents currently on active contracts will experience no immediate disruption to their service. However, the moment a household seeks to switch providers, move home, or adjust their broadband plan, they will be required to select a modern full fibre package. While this ensures higher internet reliability and significantly faster speeds for streaming, remote work, and home connectivity, it also necessitates a short installation process involving an optical network terminal (ONT) being fitted at the property.

Impact on Vulnerable Users and Specialized Devices

The transition presents specific practical considerations for elderly or vulnerable residents who rely heavily on traditional landline phones. Digital voice services require the telephone to connect directly into a broadband router, meaning landlines will depend on the home’s mains electricity power supply. Unlike legacy copper lines, which retained low-voltage power during local power cuts, digital voice lines will require battery backup units to maintain emergency access during power outages. Furthermore, residents using personal telecare alarms, panic buttons, or security systems connected to old copper lines will need to verify that their equipment is compatible with IP-based digital connections.

Impact on Local Businesses

For commercial enterprises operating within Bridgeton, Merrylee, and Stepps, the shift away from copper infrastructure will provide higher bandwidth capacity and greater operational resilience. However, businesses operating legacy hardware—such as traditional payment terminals (EPOS), analogue credit card machines, or connected fax and building alarm systems—will need to audit their equipment. Companies will need to migrate these systems to IP-compatible hardware prior to the restriction dates to avoid unexpected service interruptions during routine contract renewals or provider switches.