Will FTTC Be Phased Out?

Most people have heard that the PSTN landline network, which relies on copper wires, will be switched off by 2027. If you know about FTTC broadband, you might then wonder – will FTTC be phased out too?

We’re here to explain, so read on to learn all about the fate of FTTC.

Fibre versus phone lines

First, let’s be clear – FTTC is not the same thing as the PSTN landline network.

Telecoms companies in the UK have said they will switch off the PSTN landline network by 2027.

But that does not mean that any kind of internet connection, including FTTC, will be switched off in 2027. The switch off of the PSTN landline network is unrelated to anything about FTTC.

Why the confusion?

So, why is FTTC sometimes confused with the landline network?

In short, this is because they both at least partly use copper wires. When people hear reports that the PSTN’s copper lines are being shut down, they think this means FTTC’s lines are being shut down too.

What is FTTC, anyway?

FTTC stands for “Fibre to the Cabinet.” It’s a type of broadband internet connection you can get in your home.

With FTTC, fibre optic cable connects the internet exchange to a “cabinet,” or a box on the street near your home. Copper wires then connect the cabinet to your home. Thus, the broadband connection travels at high speeds to the cabinet, but at slightly slower speeds to your home.

An improvement on FTTC is FTTP, or “Fibre to the Premises.” With FTTP, your home is connected directly to the internet exchange by fibre optic cables. As you can imagine, that gives you a faster connection.

Will FTTC be phased out?

Since the copper wires used in FTTC are ageing and simply don’t provide as good a service, FTTC is slowly being phased out. However, it will not be phased out by 2027.

The UK government said in 2023 that it would like FTTP to be available to everyone in the UK by 2030. Internet providers have also said this is their aim. However, there is no hard deadline and no threat of FTTC being completely “switched off” at this time. If you’re an organisation keen to get the superfast fibre connection of FTTP, VS Group is here to help. Give us a call on 0330 094 0170 or email us at customerservice@vsgcomms.com to learn about the different fast connectivity options we offer for businesses and charities.