GoKawiilBT's copper phone lines could fetch over $2.7 billion as fiber rollout continues
As BT subsidiary Openreach replaces the UK's aging copper phone network with fiber broadband, the recovered copper is turning into a lucrative asset. Rising global copper demand, driven by AI data centers and electrification, has pushed the potential value of BT's recovered metal from roughly £1.5 billion to over £2 billion. Openreach has already recovered more than 22,000 metric tons of copper since 2023 and has a recycling deal with EMR that recently paid £99 million upfront.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The surge in copper's value shows how the infrastructure shift to fiber is generating unexpected financial upside for telecoms beyond service revenue. It also has a darker side: soaring prices have made copper cabling a target for theft, disrupting service for some communities and forcing Openreach to adopt anti-theft tracking measures like synthetic DNA tagging.
- BT's recovered copper could be worth more than £2 billion amid rising global demand.
- Openreach has recovered over 22,000 metric tons of copper since 2023 through its fiber rollout.
- Copper theft is rising as prices climb, prompting new anti-theft tracking technology.
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See TP-Link Deco XE75 Mesh Wi-Fi System on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Will Shanklin, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “BT's old copper network could be worth over $2 billion”
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