Copper switch-off: Economic analysis and operator experiences of decommissioning copper
As ultra-high speed network deployments continue to progress, operators have to decide on the fate of their legacy copper networks. Literally, they must manage their exit from the copper era.
Aging copper-based infrastructures are increasingly costly to maintain, especially when the operator is faced with rising customer expectations for network performance and quality of service impacted by FTTP standards. Over the past two years, incumbent operators have started to announce their copper switch-off dates and to implement the decommissioning of their legacy networks.
However, NGA deployment plans are not proceeding at the same pace everywhere, and although migration to fibre is proceeding steadily, a significant proportion of broadband access is still based on ADSL.
Based on operators’ first-hand experiences with copper switch-off initiatives in Europe, Asia and North America, this report aims to provide an in-depth view of how copper decommissioning initiatives take place, what is at stake for the various parties, and how players balance the many diverse and sometimes countervailing interests at work behind the switch-off of legacy networks.
Aging copper-based infrastructures are increasingly costly to maintain, especially when the operator is faced with rising customer expectations for network performance and quality of service impacted by FTTP standards. Over the past two years, incumbent operators have started to announce their copper switch-off dates and to implement the decommissioning of their legacy networks.
However, NGA deployment plans are not proceeding at the same pace everywhere, and although migration to fibre is proceeding steadily, a significant proportion of broadband access is still based on ADSL.
Based on operators’ first-hand experiences with copper switch-off initiatives in Europe, Asia and North America, this report aims to provide an in-depth view of how copper decommissioning initiatives take place, what is at stake for the various parties, and how players balance the many diverse and sometimes countervailing interests at work behind the switch-off of legacy networks.
1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2. COPPER SWITCH-OFF: CURRENT STATUS
2.1. The copper network legacy
2.2. Copper infrastructure and broadband technologies
2.3. The demand for gigabit broadband continues to increase
2.4. What is ‘copper switch-off’?
2.5. Maintaining both fibre and legacy networks puts operators under pressure
2.6. Decommissioning copper networks should enable significant savings
2.7. Decommissioning copper involves four major steps
2.8. Client migration is a critical aspect of legacy network shutdown
2.9. The complexity of copper switch-off processes demands investment efforts
2.10. The entire telecommunications ecosystem is impacted by the copper switch-off
3. DRIVERS AND BARRIERS TO DECOMMISSIONING COPPER
3.1. Switching off copper is driven by financial and political considerations
3.2. However, switching off legacy networks demands long-term investments
3.3. Copper switch-off becomes profitable in the long term
4. WORLDWIDE COPPER SWITCH-OFF OUTLOOK
4.1. European region overview
4.2. APAC region overview
4.3. North America region overview
5. COPPER SWITCH-OFF INITIATIVES – CASE STUDIES
5.1. China Telecom – China
5.2. Orange – France
5.3. Telenor – Norway
5.4. Telef?nica – Spain
5.5. Telia – Sweden
5.6. Openreach – UK
6. CONCLUSIONS AND IDATE INSIGHTS
2. COPPER SWITCH-OFF: CURRENT STATUS
2.1. The copper network legacy
2.2. Copper infrastructure and broadband technologies
2.3. The demand for gigabit broadband continues to increase
2.4. What is ‘copper switch-off’?
2.5. Maintaining both fibre and legacy networks puts operators under pressure
2.6. Decommissioning copper networks should enable significant savings
2.7. Decommissioning copper involves four major steps
2.8. Client migration is a critical aspect of legacy network shutdown
2.9. The complexity of copper switch-off processes demands investment efforts
2.10. The entire telecommunications ecosystem is impacted by the copper switch-off
3. DRIVERS AND BARRIERS TO DECOMMISSIONING COPPER
3.1. Switching off copper is driven by financial and political considerations
3.2. However, switching off legacy networks demands long-term investments
3.3. Copper switch-off becomes profitable in the long term
4. WORLDWIDE COPPER SWITCH-OFF OUTLOOK
4.1. European region overview
4.2. APAC region overview
4.3. North America region overview
5. COPPER SWITCH-OFF INITIATIVES – CASE STUDIES
5.1. China Telecom – China
5.2. Orange – France
5.3. Telenor – Norway
5.4. Telef?nica – Spain
5.5. Telia – Sweden
5.6. Openreach – UK
6. CONCLUSIONS AND IDATE INSIGHTS
LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES
2. The copper switch-off: current status
Copper- and fibre-based network architectures
Different levels of switch-off
The key issues behind the copper switch-off
The dismantlement of a copper network in stages
Opex and operating profit for switching off copper networks
3. Drivers and barriers to decommissioning copper
Opex for switching off copper networks
5. Drivers and barriers to decommissioning copper
Broadband subscribers in China, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in China, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in France, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in France, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in Norway, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in Norway, as of June 202&
Broadband subscribers in Spain, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in Spain, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in Sweden, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in Sweden, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in the UK, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in the UK, as of June 2021
2. The copper switch-off: current status
Copper- and fibre-based network architectures
Different levels of switch-off
The key issues behind the copper switch-off
The dismantlement of a copper network in stages
Opex and operating profit for switching off copper networks
3. Drivers and barriers to decommissioning copper
Opex for switching off copper networks
5. Drivers and barriers to decommissioning copper
Broadband subscribers in China, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in China, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in France, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in France, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in Norway, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in Norway, as of June 202&
Broadband subscribers in Spain, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in Spain, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in Sweden, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in Sweden, as of June 2021
Broadband subscribers in the UK, as of June 2021
Fibre homes passed (incl. FTTB) and subscribers vs. ADSL subscribers in the UK, as of June 2021
