BroadbandSwitch.uk updates full fibre upgrade guide as millions still have not switched

BroadbandSwitch.uk has refreshed its free upgrade guide after analyzing Ofcom open data showing about 13.9 million UK premises can get full fibre but have not taken it up. The update lands as Openreach copper stop-sell expands and the 31 January 2027 landline switch-off approaches, raising the cost and timing stakes for households still on copper or part fibre.

Why it matters: - About 13.9 million UK premises can get full fibre but have not taken it up, according to BroadbandSwitch.uk's analysis of Ofcom open data. - The analogue landline network is due to be retired on 31 January 2027, so households still on copper will need to move to digital voice service over broadband. - Ofcom says many customers can switch to faster full fibre and pay the same, or less, than copper or part fibre. - The upgrade guide is meant to help households check what they have, what they can get, and whether switching now makes sense.

What happened: - BroadbandSwitch.uk updated its free full fibre upgrade guide on 14 October 2026. - The company based the update on Ofcom's Connected Nations open data and local authority files for January 2026. - Ofcom data shows full fibre was available to 24.9 million UK homes, or 82% of homes, in January 2026. - Ofcom data shows 12.4 million premises were connected, equal to 47% of premises with access. - The analysis says 6.2 million premises were still waiting for full fibre buildout. - BroadbandSwitch.uk says take-up ranges from 19% in Kensington and Chelsea to 78% in Hull. - Birmingham, Glasgow and Leeds have the largest numbers of premises passed by the network but not yet connected.

The details: - Ofcom's local authority data shows 75 of 361 council areas are below 40% take-up. - Coverage is highest in Northern Ireland, where full fibre reaches 96% of homes, versus 82% in England, 83% in Wales and 75% in Scotland. - Ofcom's Connected Nations 2025 report found take-up was 14% where full fibre had been available for a year or less, rising to 55% where it had been available for three years or more. - Ofcom also found rural take-up at 56%, ahead of urban take-up at 40%. - Ofcom said in July 2026 that around half of households able to access full fibre had yet to sign up. - Openreach is retiring copper exchange by exchange and named another batch on 8 October 2026. - Openreach had activated copper stop-sell in 1,572 exchanges covering around 15.4 million premises by 20 August 2026. - On 8 October 2026, Openreach added 112 exchange areas covering more than 619,000 premises, taking the programme to 1,663 exchanges and around 16.4 million premises by November 2026. - Ofcom's pricing research, published 26 February 2026, found many customers can move to full fibre for the same price or less. - Ofcom said average broadband prices fell 6% in real terms last year, with faster services seeing the biggest drops. - In-contract customers spend £7 to £9 a month less than out-of-contract customers, and 28% of broadband customers are out of contract.

Between the lines: - The gap between coverage and take-up is not mainly a network-build problem anymore. It is a sign-up problem. - The release points to confusion over the word