The UK is undergoing one of the biggest digital infrastructure overhauls in its history.
In just five years, the country has gone from lagging behind Europe in full-fibre broadband to achieving more than 78% coverage, transforming the way millions of people work, learn and communicate.
At the heart of this surge is a decisive shift away from ageing copper cabling toward ultra-fast fibre-optic networks and a series of bold regulatory moves that broke up monopolies and opened the floodgates to competition.
Copper cables near end of life
For decades, Britain’s broadband infrastructure was built on copper wires, originally laid for voice telephone services. These cables were never designed to carry the heavy data loads of modern internet use, resulting in limited speeds and reliability issues, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas.
But now, the copper era is drawing to a close. Openreach, the company that manages the UK’s broadband network infrastructure, has confirmed that the nationwide switch-off of the copper network is coming. From 2025, new copper-based broadband services will no longer be sold, and by the end of 2027, the legacy network is expected to be fully retired.
This transition is not just a technical upgrade – it marks a fundamental change in the way connectivity is delivered, moving from slow and weather-sensitive copper to durable fibre-optic cables that can handle gigabit speeds.
Regulatory shake-up fuels progress
The rapid expansion of full-fibre coverage is not an accident. It stems from a series of key regulatory interventions that reshaped the industry. Most significant was the 2021 decision by Ofcom to overhaul the market structure and pricing model, creating better conditions for new providers to enter and invest.
Prior to this, BT Group held a dominant position through its subsidiary Openreach. Although Openreach operated as a legally separate business, it was still part of BT’s corporate structure, raising concerns about competition and transparency. Critics argued that this slowed investment in next-generation networks and stifled innovation.
In response, Ofcom pushed for a deeper functional separation of BT and Openreach, ensuring that all retail broadband providers could access the infrastructure on equal terms. This was followed by regulatory changes that removed pricing restrictions on fibre rollout in less competitive areas – giving builders the freedom to invest with confidence.
Private investment surges
The results have been stark. Independent broadband builders like CityFibre, Hyperoptic and Gigaclear have since rolled out thousands of kilometres of new fibre lines, particularly in towns and cities previously overlooked by the big players. Meanwhile, Virgin Media and Openreach itself have scaled up their own delivery ambitions, covering millions of premises at record pace.
The shift has been supported by billions in private investment, with government-backed schemes like Project Gigabit targeting the most difficult rural areas. These efforts are closing the digital divide and boosting regional economies, with fast broadband now considered essential infrastructure alongside roads and rail.
Europe still a step ahead
Despite this progress, the UK still trails behind several European nations. Countries like Spain, Portugal and Sweden have already achieved near-total fibre coverage, with higher consumer adoption rates as well.
One key challenge for the UK is encouraging households to switch to full-fibre where it is available. Take-up remains patchy in some areas, with consumers often unaware of the benefits or put off by installation costs.
Industry voices argue that greater public awareness and incentives are needed to ensure the infrastructure investment pays off – particularly as the copper network is phased out.
A race against the switch-off
With the copper switch-off deadline looming, the UK now faces a race against time. Homes and businesses must migrate to fibre or risk losing landline and broadband services altogether. For telecoms firms, this means accelerating not just the build, but also consumer engagement and support.
The UK’s fibre revolution is well underway – but its ultimate success will depend on finishing the job. The regulatory reset and market liberalisation have delivered a faster, more competitive broadband landscape. What’s needed now is action to ensure that every home and business can, and will, make the leap into the full-fibre future.
