Why Does Copper Switch-Off Matter?

It matters because the days of copper broadband are numbered. Ireland’s telecoms regulator, Comreg, has approved the commencement of the copper switch off process. Separately, the European Commission’s Digital Decade strategy aims to ensure that all European households have access to gigabit connectivity by 2030, which practically means replacing outdated copper networks with full fibre (FTTH).

Not only will copper broadband be phased out but a wide range of devices currently dependent on copper will need to be upgraded to be compatible with modern broadband.  These include many everyday home and business devices, such as landline phones, house and fire alarms, medical and security monitors, lifts, retail sales terminals or CCTV systems.