Tranche 18 batch of exchanges for Openreach FTTP Priority Programme mapped

Back on Friday 11th October Openreach published a list of 79 exchanges that formed Tranche 18 of its Stop Sell programme for old copper and part fibre services. This latest batch is set to enter the stop sell state on 6th November 2025 – though some individual exchanges may see their data change. 

Map showing Openreach exchanges and which batch and expected stop sell date for FTTP Priority programme

We ran the original list when first announced, but the plotting of the update only started a few days ago once we’d got the full list of changes i.e. with 1,190 exchanges in the FTTP Priority programme now there are always a few where the data changes. The most common reason for the date changing is that the Openreach full fibre roll-out in a specific exchange is not going at the pace originally expected, so the criteria of 75% of premises able to be connected to an Openreach FTTP service is not reached.

Our broadband availability API and postcode searches have also been updated. The API tracks the many dates since on 6th November 2025 when Wrexham exchange reaches its stop sell date any Openreach based migrations will be FTTC to FTTP at addresses where FTTP is available, and any new broadband ordered will be via FTTP, so in the API even if FTTC is available we deliberately hide it. Of course there is invariably some properties or flats where Openreach FTTP is not available and those addresses are excluded from the programme until such date as FTTP is available.

Of course the FTTP Priority Programme only affects those providers that use the Openreach full fibre and part fibre services.

The eventual aim of the FTTP Priority programme is to have moved millions of part fibre end-users onto full fibre, ensuring good take-up and making things like the exchange closure programme easier. 

For those fighting against street furniture while Openreach has not announced anything yet, we would expect that once digital voice is everywhere and areas have everyone off part-fibre and on full-fibre that we may see some VDSL2 cabinets decommissioned and removed from streets. Since if a dslam has no active lines there is little point powering it, better to recover it and keep a stock of ready to roll replacements for the usual Openreach cabinet impersonating a bollard and stopping wayward vehicles.