With the transition to full fibre broadband networks well underway, Openreach, BT’s infrastructure division, is introducing measures designed to gently “nudge” customers away from their old copper-based connections and onto newer services. This ‘Big Switchoff’ is set to upgrade Britain’s internet speeds and reliability while preserving the valuable investment already made in fibre cables over the last decade. For many Britons who are used to slow download times and frequent outages, this could be a welcome change.
However, some people may not be able to make the switch right away due to cost or other constraints. In order to make sure these customers are not left behind, Openreach is now ‘throttling’ broadband speeds and limiting phone calls. This article takes a look at what exactly is happening, why Openreach is doing it, and when the ‘Big Switchoff’ will take place.
Openreach has announced that they will be slowing down certain services on their copper-based broadband connections in order to encourage customers to upgrade to fibre-based ones. These services include internet downloads, video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) telephone calls. While this throttling of existing services won’t affect uploads or general browsing, it is expected to have an impact on many customers’ download speeds.
Openreach’s goal in introducing these measures is to ensure that everybody has access to faster and more reliable broadband connections as the ‘Big Switchoff’ approaches. They are hoping that by limiting the use of certain services on older copper-based broadband connections, they can gently “nudge” customers away from them and onto newer fibre networks. This will help bring Britain’s internet infrastructure up to date while preserving their already significant investment in fibre cables over the past decade.
Openreach has yet to announce a specific date for the ‘Big Switchoff’, but it is expected to be some time in 2022. Until then, they will continue to ‘throttle’ services on copper-based connections in order to encourage customers to upgrade as soon as possible.
Openreach’s measures of throttling broadband speeds and limiting phone calls on existing copper-based broadband networks are designed to gently “nudge” customers away from them and onto newer fibre services ahead of the ‘Big Switchoff’. Although a specific date for this event has yet to be announced, it is expected take place sometime in 2022. As such, Openreach encourages everyone who can make the switch now so that they don’t miss out on the faster and more reliable internet speeds that fibre-based networks can provide.
By understanding what is happening and why, as well as being aware of when the ‘Big Switchoff’ is expected to take place, people can make sure that they don’t miss out on the faster speeds and improved performance that comes with upgrading to newer fibre networks. Openreach will continue to ‘throttle’ services on copper-based connections until then in order to encourage customers to make the switch sooner rather than later.
