# Copper and Telecommunications

Telecom networks were built on copper lines, but optical fibre now replaces copper in access and long-haul networks, so operators are retiring copper while still needing it for power feeds to radio sites and subsea cable repeaters.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/links/copper-and-telecommunications/

[Copper](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/copper/) (commodity) and [Telecommunications](https://www.materialinsights.org/industries/telecom/) (industry): 2 relationships.

## How they are linked

### 1. Industry input

*Physical flow · Medium · Copper to telecommunications*

Data now travels mostly over fibre and radio, but copper still carries the power: it feeds radio units and towers and forms the power conductor that drives subsea cable repeaters; the site rates copper 5 of 5 for radio equipment vendors and 4 of 5 for subsea cable builders.

- **3** enterprise types in telecom that depend on copper
- **5 of 5** criticality for radio, core and transport equipment vendors
- **4 of 5** criticality for subsea cable builders

The dependence has shifted from signal to power. A fibre network uses far less copper per subscriber than a copper access network, but each new mobile site and each subsea system still needs copper conductors, so telecom copper demand is smaller and steadier than in the copper-line era.

Enterprise types that depend on it:

- Radio, core and transport equipment vendors: radio units and cabling (criticality 5 of 5)
- Subsea cable builders and consortia: power conductor for repeaters (criticality 4 of 5)
- Optical fibre and cable makers: copper cables (criticality 3 of 5)

Sources: [Material Insights](https://www.materialinsights.org/industries/telecom/materials/)

### 2. Fibre replaces copper

*Substitution · Strong · Optical fibre replaces copper lines*

Fibre carries far more data over longer distances with less maintenance, so the USGS lists optical fibre as a substitute for copper in telecommunications, and operators are switching off copper networks to cut costs.

- **12.5 million** UK premises under Openreach copper stop-sell, February 2026
- **21 million** premises able to get Openreach full fibre, about 60%, early 2026
- **end of 2029** AT&T target to shut most of its legacy copper network

Openreach stops selling copper in an exchange area once 75% of premises can get full fibre, and BT's analogue phone network switch-off has moved to January 2027. AT&T plans to close most of its copper network by the end of 2029 and has sold and leased back central office buildings as it does. Copper theft, which makes repairs slower than on fibre, adds to the case for retirement.

Sources: [USGS](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-copper.pdf); [Computer Weekly](https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366637077/Openreach-puts-a-stop-to-copper-for-another-million-UK-premises); [Fierce Network](https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/att-gets-bargain-some-its-old-copper-coffers)

## For investors

### Key learnings

1. Telecom is a declining copper user in access networks: the switch to fibre is policy-backed and dated, with the UK phone network closing in January 2027.
2. Copper retirement cuts operators' maintenance costs and frees property, as AT&T's sale and leaseback of central offices shows.
3. Copper's remaining telecom role is power delivery to radio sites and subsea repeaters, a small, steady demand tied to network build-out.

### What to track

- **Full-fibre coverage and copper stop-sell areas**: Faster coverage brings forward copper switch-off and cost savings (Quarterly · Openreach, Ofcom)
- **Operator copper retirement filings**: Signals the pace of legacy network shutdown in the US (As filed · FCC, AT&T results)

## For policymakers

### Key learnings

1. Copper switch-off needs rules for customers left without fibre: Openreach stops selling copper only in exchange areas where at least 75% of premises can get full fibre.
2. Retired copper networks can return metal to the scrap market where cables are recovered, so switch-off plans are also a potential source of secondary copper.
3. For India, copper's telecom role is mainly power cabling for towers and radio units, so site power and protection against cable theft are the practical policy points.

### What to track

- **Fibre-to-the-home connections**: Shows how far copper lines have been replaced (Quarterly · TRAI)
- **Telecom tower and fibre route additions**: Signals copper demand for site power cabling (Quarterly · DoT, TRAI)

## Sources

1. [Telecommunications: materials](https://www.materialinsights.org/industries/telecom/materials/), Material Insights (2026)
2. [Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Copper](https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-copper.pdf), USGS (2026)
3. [Openreach puts a stop to copper for another million UK premises](https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366637077/Openreach-puts-a-stop-to-copper-for-another-million-UK-premises), Computer Weekly (2026)
4. [AT&T gets a bargain for some of its old copper coffers](https://www.fierce-network.com/broadband/att-gets-bargain-some-its-old-copper-coffers), Fierce Network (2025)