As the UK transitions to full-fiber broadband, the BT copper network is becoming an unexpected financial asset. The telecom giant could bring in more than £2 billion by recycling metal from its aging phone lines, according to reporting by The Guardian. What was once considered obsolete infrastructure is now valuable scrap, thanks to surging global copper prices driven by demand from AI data centers, renewable energy projects, and electrification efforts.
Rising copper prices reshape the BT copper network’s value
BT’s recovered copper was previously valued at around £1.5 billion, but that figure is climbing fast. Global demand for copper is expected to grow sharply over the next decade, meaning the BT copper network could potentially exceed even the £2 billion estimate. “Copper has become one of the most strategic materials in the modern economy,” according to Openreach‘s head of sustainability, Abby Chicken. Openreach, the BT subsidiary handling the infrastructure overhaul, has already recovered nearly 10,000 metric tons of copper in its latest financial year alone, with over 22,000 metric tons recovered since 2023.
The company isn’t waiting to capitalize on this windfall. BT has an agreement with EMR, a cable recycling company, and recently received £99 million upfront for recovered copper. Openreach is replacing the legacy BT copper network with full-fiber broadband, with plans to connect 30 million residences by the end of the decade.
The dark side of valuable copper
The rising value of the BT copper network has created an unexpected problem: theft. Neighborhoods have been knocked offline as thieves target old landline cables for their suddenly valuable metal content. Openreach has responded by marking some cables with synthetic DNA and UV tracers to deter robbers and aid recovery efforts. As covered earlier, Samsung Galaxy S26 FE vs S25 FE: Explaining the $50 Price Increase highlighted how price increases are reshaping consumer decisions across the tech industry, and in a related development, Motorola Previews Android 15 Update and New Themed Icons showed how manufacturers are adapting to changing market conditions.
It’s a peculiar twist for aging infrastructure: landlines, once dismissed as relics, are now worth stealing. But for BT, the real profit lies in the systematic recovery and recycling of the metal itself—a reminder that in 2026, there’s still money to be made in legacy technology, if you know where to dig.
المصدر: Engadget
