BARNSLEY’S century-old copper phone lines - used for landline calls and home broadband - are set to be replaced as part of a huge scheme.
The infrastructure will be decommissioned once three-quarters of properties have been upgraded to full-fibre connectivity.
The upgrade will offer users several new features, including calls to multiple people at the same time, better quality, the ability to block numbers and incoming spam prevention.
However, unlike traditional landlines, which continue to work during power cuts as they draw power from the exchange, the new system will not work without a back-up power bank.
Openreach’s customer migrations director, James Lilley, said: “The programme is a critical part of ensuring that the UK’s communication infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the future.
“As copper’s ability to support modern communications declines, the immediate focus is getting people onto newer, future-proofed technologies.”
Barnsley was this week added to the list of towns and cities where the ageing copper phone lines will be switched off, with the transition expected before the end of 2026.
