About the Copper Switch-Off

The Transition Process

What will happen in practice and how to prepare for your transition.

The transition will take time and careful planning.

For those who are yet to transfer their services from the copper network, we have outlined what will happen next.

What will happen in practice ?

If you live in a Zone that is being transferred from the copper network, you will receive a letter from the Communications and Utilities Regulatory Authority (the Authority) notifying you about the switch-off and your transition.

Shortly after the Authority’s letter, you will be contacted by your service provider about your service, and to find out about your needs, and any extra support you may want. Your service provider will also need to know if you could be temporarily excluded from the transition. We have more information about these Temporary Exclusions on The Plan page.

Once your service provider has been in touch, you will be given time to think about your needs, which new service might suit you best, and what that might mean for you and your transition.

If you are unsure about what to do, or need further help or advice, please see our FAQs or contact us.

On the other hand, if you already know what you need and are happy to transfer your service as discussed with your service provider, please let your service provider know.

Unless you have a Temporary Exclusion (find out more here), you will have about 12 months from the date your service provider first contacted you about your service to agree a transition plan and transfer your service.

Once you have decided what you would like to do, please contact your service provider to let them know. Your service provider will then agree a plan with you that meets your needs and arrange to transfer your service.

Your service provider may contact you again after a reasonable period of time if you have not let them know what you have decided. Contact details for the Island’s service providers can be found here.

Unless you have agreed a Temporary Exclusion, once 12 months have passed, network support will be withdrawn for your current service. This means that, if you are still using a copper-based service after 12 months and your service develops a fault, your service provider will not be able to fix it for you.

More information about Temporary Exclusions can be found on The Plan page.

How to prepare for your transition

Things to consider

While you are waiting for your service provider to contact you about your telephone or broadband service, there are some things to consider in preparation for your transition:

The timeline

From March 2025, some consumers are being invited to transfer their landline telephone and broadband services from the copper network.

Phase 1 for Zones 1 and 2 began in March 2025.

Phase 1 for Zone 3 began in May 2025.

Phase 1 for Zone 4 began in July 2025.

Phase 1 for Zone 5 began in October 2025.

Phase 1 for Zone 6 began in January 2026.

Phase 1 for Zone 7 will begin in 2027.

Details on future Phases will be released as soon as information becomes available.

CURA has written to those currently affected to provide further information. CURA will also write to those affected in Zone 7 once details become available.

You can find out more about the different Zones in our Map.

New services

If you are currently using a copper-based telephone or broadband service, you will need to transfer to a new service.

Details of the Island’s telephone and broadband services and the options currently available to you can be found in our Phone and Broadband pages.

If you are unsure about which new service to transfer to, please get in touch for help and advice.

Temporary Exclusions

Due to certain needs or circumstances, not everyone will be able to transfer their services when invited.

Those who have certain devices, service needs, require ‘intervention’, or do not have Fibre available to them will not be invited to transfer their telephone or broadband service during Phase 1. Those who find themselves in certain circumstances will also be given more time. Please see Temporary Exclusions for further details.

Please let your service provider know about your needs and circumstances. Your service provider will then work to put appropriate help and support in place for you.

Those who cannot transfer their telephone or broadband service due to certain needs or circumstances will be given more time, and will NOT be disconnected or switched-off from the copper network until an appropriate solution that meets their needs has been put in place.

Contact with your service provider

Your service provider will contact you about the copper switch-off and to understand your needs.

Your service provider will contact you about the copper switch-off plan and transferring your current service to an alternative that best meets your needs.

If you have not heard from your service provider, and would like to know more about what is happening, the options available to you, or the steps you might need to take, please contact your service provider.

Be aware of alarms and devices

Some people have care devices or security alarms that work over their current service.

Some of these devices/alarms may not work over some alternative services. If you have a care device or security alarm, please contact your service provider as soon as possible to let them know.

Care devices and security alarms can include carephones or telecare devices, health pendants (including panic buttons), security alarms, fire alarms, and lift lines. If you have a different device and you are unsure if it will work on your new service, please contact your service provider to check.

Details of the Island’s service providers can be found here

Be aware of potential costs

There may be costs to install your new service, or to upgrade your telephone / broadband devices.

There may be costs associated with transferring to a new service, or with upgrading your telephone or broadband equipment (if required).

Some service providers may offer promotional rates, free equipment, or waive installation fees, so it’s worth asking service providers about any available offers. Some service providers also offer telephone and broadband services using different technologies. These options may be cheaper in situations where there are added costs to installing fibre.

Still need more help?

We understand. We are working with service providers, other government agencies, and charities to make sure appropriate help and support is given to anyone who needs it.

If you cannot find the help or information you need, please get in touch.