Openreach is preparing a series of steep price increases for copper-based WLR/PSTN services throughout 2026, signalling the final push toward a fully fibre-first UK ahead of the 2027 PSTN switch-off. The upcoming rises are substantial, stacking up to a 100% increase by the end of the year and are designed to make remaining on legacy copper services increasingly unsustainable for providers and end-users.

Copper (WLR/PSTN) Price Rises: A Clear Signal to Migrate

The planned increases roll out in three stages:

• 1 April 2026: +20% uplift on basic rental
• 1 July 2026: +40% increase on the new April price
• 1 October 2026: +40% increase on the new July price, effectively doubling the cost compared with early 2026

These aggressive rises underline Openreach’s strategy to accelerate the transition away from copper before the nationwide PSTN shutdown in December 2027.

Full Fibre (FTTP) Price Changes: Smaller, CPI-Linked Adjustments

While copper charges surge, full fibre (FTTP) services will see much smaller, inflation-aligned price changes. Some FTTP products will rise in line with CPI, although the exact impact will vary between providers.

Openreach is also offering migration incentives, including discounted FTTP connections, to help service providers move customers from copper to fibre particularly in regions where fibre coverage is still expanding.

What This Means for Businesses and Consumers

• If you're still using copper services (WLR/PSTN):
  Expect your bills to rise sharply throughout 2026. The pricing structure is designed to encourage early migration rather than waiting until the 2027 deadline.
• If you're already on FTTP:
  You may see modest, inflation-linked increases. In many cases, fibre services will still offer better long-term value and improved performance.

Next Steps

Now is the time to review your connectivity plans. Contact your telecoms provider to understand how these pricing changes will affect your services and to explore the benefits of switching to full fibre ahead of the 2027 switch-off.

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