Modernising from the ground up: The next chapter in 145 years of telecoms history

At BT, we’re proud to provide the rock-solid digital foundation on which customers build their businesses. Every day, our networks keep these businesses – and the economy – moving. 

Looking back at the history behind these networks, the UK was a true pioneer. The first copper telephone network was the one built in the UK. It supported the UK’s first telephone exchange, which opened in 1879 – built to get people talking. As technology has evolved, businesses have used this network for more than just landlines. It connected fax machines, lift alarms, chip and pin machines and a wealth of other technologies. And now, almost 150 years on, it’s time for a new network to take its place. 

I saw this for myself a few weeks ago when I joined a team of Openreach engineers out in the field laying fibre. Under the street, I saw bundles of copper wires just like the ones put in place more than 100 years ago, wrapped in plastic to protect against knee-high water and leaks, and surrounded by air pumps. These copper wires are prone to faults and bring resilience risks. At the same time, I saw tiny fibre wires, capable of carrying more data, faster and more resilient, even through water. It felt like I was looking at history and the future in one go. 

Upgrading the UK’s business infrastructure 

The UK has always been a telecoms pioneer. If we want to maintain its position at the forefront of the digital frontier, it’s time for businesses to move to a new network; one that’s more reliable, more secure and more efficient. One that’s ready to meet the needs of businesses for the next 150 years. 

It’s time for us all to work together to go faster, prioritise innovation and move from the old to the new. Put simply, analogue is the past – and digital is the future. 

BT Group now expects its customers to have moved off the old analogue landline network by the end of January 2027. Our message to business customers is simple: don’t wait. Act now to go fully digital, to break your reliance on legacy networks and to futureproof your operations. It’s not just for the good of your business, it’s also for the good of British industry, the economy, and the country as a whole. Help the UK leapfrog ahead as a global tech leader. 

Supporting all customers in the move to digital 

Our expert teams are here to support businesses and the public sector as they move from the old to the new. We are just one piece of the puzzle, and we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re calling on all our business customers to work with us to help them understand exactly what they have connected to the copper network – so we can support them in making the move as safe and straightforward as possible, without leaving anyone behind. 

Focus lies at the core of our strategy – focusing on the problems our customers need us to solve for them today, and being ready for the ones they will face tomorrow. The move to modern networks is a prime example: investing in the future-fit digital infrastructure our customers – and Britain as a nation – need to help them thrive in a secure, sustainable, safe, and scalable way.