@bmc wrote:
@Mark280
I stand to be corrected but as I understand it the ADSL signal is "injected" into the PSTN equipment for onward transmission to the consumer. Hence when PSTN goes there is no method of sending the signal hence no ADSL.
The end of PSTN (analogue phone service) doesn't directly result in the end of 'copper wire' phone service (nor copper wire broadband).
There are still a fair number of customers who only use 'copper' based services - namely those that use phone only (no broadband) - and ADSL broadband customers.
The key thing is - even when analogue phone is no more - 'digital phone' service (VOIP, BT Digital Voice, etc) will still be delivered over copper wire, all the way from the exchange to the customer premises, for those customers not using 'fibre' (FTTC or FTTP).
So the copper based service will still be around in many places - at least until, area by area gradually become 'fibre only' (I guess meaning, becoming 'Fibre Priority Exchanges').
Note: Even where 'Full Fibre' may be available - that doesn't in itself make an exchange 'Fibre Priority' until >75% coverage is reached in that exchange area - and even when that threshold is reached, there is a 12 month (?) notice before it becomes a 'Fibre Priority' exchange.
And even when an exchange becomes Fibre Priority - that won't necessarily result in the removal of existing copper line services until the eventual exchange closure(s).
BT's aim is to be 99% 'fibre' - which I believe still includes FTTC (?) - by around year 2030.
All that said - when it happens at any particular exchange, could be any time between now and then (and quite possibly later if it doesn't all go to plan).
So to summarise - copper lines that can 'potentially' still deliver ADSL will still be around for a while yet - e.g. delivering some peoples' digital phone (by underlying broadband).
But - there's is no doubt, those still using copper based ADSL, in most areas, will find it increasingly difficult (if not impossible) to keep using ADSL broadband long term, due to BT Openreach's 'stop sell' policy...
Quoting from their Broadband Availability Checker: "ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL availability: If shown at FTTP or SOGEA premises,ADSL, ADSL2+ and SOADSL are not available to order due to WLR Withdrawal stop sell rules. CPs should order FTTP or SOGEA. Copper products are only available by exception."
The 'stop sell policy' inevitably means that many Service providers will stop offering ADSL for new, or provider switching, customers (most probably already have) - and existing customers, particularly those looking to 're-contract', will likely be under various pressures to upgrade to 'fibre' of some variety - except in areas where there is no fibre option.
[P.S Sorry - bit of a long winded post.]
