A reminder to our Partners on the key points for the Openreach WLR Switch-Off and withdrawal.
- In May 2024, Openreach announced a delay of the WLR withdrawal from December 2025 to January 2027 due to required improvements to the programme, including vulnerable customers and Telecare users
- The advice is to maintain plans and drive towards the December 2025 date leaving time for complex cases. PSTN is becoming ever more unreliable, prone to faults and difficult to maintain
- WLR Stop Sell Policy and Rules – reminder, in general, if FTTP is available at the premise, this should be the product of choice. If FTTP is not available at the premise, SOGEA should be the preferred alternative. SOADSL will be available where FTTP or SOGEA is not available, at which point ADSL will not be able to be ordered. If a premises becomes enabled for FTTP or SOGEA, SOADSL will be unavailable for new supply
- ADSL supplied under the exemption will be required to migrate to either FTTP, SOGEA or SOADSL before the WLR withdrawal date 31st January 2027
- End customers that already have an active FTTC or SOGEA service are allowed to change CP and keep their existing service as long as it is provided on either a FTTC 40/10 or SOGEA 40/10 service. End customers will also be able to modify the bandwidth from any speed to a FTTC 40/10 or SOGEA 40/10 service
- SOGEA can be ordered as an exception if FTTP is available, for Uninhabitable Premises and for WLR Solus lines at 0.5Mb for voice call
- The 105 exchanges are forecast for closure between 2028 and 2030 and will be completed in 4 phases. A list of the impacted exchanges can be found here.
For information on our alternative products and support in the Switch-Off, including novation of customers onto new technology, please contact your Partner Business Manager or email us at hello@onecompartners.co.uk.