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Openreach has today announced a raft of above inflation price hikes on some of their older copper-based line products for UK internet and phone providers, which are designed to “encourage” comms providers to upgrade their customers to “digital alternatives” and full fibre (FTTP) technology; before legacy services are switched off in January 2027.
Just to recap. The legacy phone switch-off was last year delayed to 31st January 2027 in order to give broadband, phone, telecare providers, councils and consumers more time to adapt (details). The main focus of this was the 1.8 million UK people who use vital home telecare systems (e.g. elderly, disabled – vulnerable users), which aren’t always compatible with digital phone services because telecare providers were slow to adapt. But this overlooks that, for everybody else, many providers will still be working toward the original Dec 2025 deadline to have their customers off the PSTN network.
Suffice to say that today’s change relates to that process, as well as the more distant future withdrawal of other copper-line products and services. Openreach thus intends to introduce wholesale price increases on four of its copper-based products – which will see “prices double in the final three months” before the PSTN – the old system used for landline calls – is switched off.
Rental prices for Openreach’s Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) basic product and other WLR variants, will increase by 20% from April 1st 2026, followed by a huge 40% rise, on the current price, in July 2026, and rising by a further 40% in October 2025, double the current rental price.
Price increases
- On 1 April 2026 the WLR basic rental price will rise from the current price of £10.65 + vat by 20%. The rental price will also rise for other WLR variants
- On 1 July 2026 the WLR basic rental price will rise by 40% of the current price. The rental price will also rise for other WLR variants
- On 1 October 2026 the WLR basic rental price will rise by a further 40% of the current price. This will be to double the current rental price. The rental price will also rise for other WLR variants.
However, at the same time Openreach is adding to a number of existing migration incentives by launching a connection special offer, which will provide a free or discounted connection for providers who upgrade their customers to SOGEA – an alternative copper-based service providing a digital broadband line (FTTC / VDSL2) where full fibre is not yet available.
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