Copper lines serve a significant proportion of fixed line and broadband connections in Ireland. The copper line technology was originally designed to deliver telephony services (i.e. voice services) at a fixed location. Copper-based networks (legacy infrastructure) were not designed to carry large amounts of data or internet traffic.
As electronic communications have evolved there are now greater demands on communication systems to carry increasing volumes of data traffic. It is apparent that there are now physical limitations on copper networks to cater for today’s requirements of faster and more reliable data services and more flexible telephony services. Such telecommunication services can be better served by more modern infrastructure, such as fibre-based networks.
In that context, National Broadband Ireland (‘NBI’) is rolling out a fibre network in the Intervention Area as defined by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (‘DECC’), consisting of areas which will not be covered by commercial deployments (primarily the rural areas of the country). Meanwhile, eir, SIRO and Virgin Media are all continuing to expand their fibre networks in the Commercial Area, located outside of this Intervention Area. These network developments will result in fibre-based services becoming more widely available at homes/premises, with Retail Service Providers actively selling fibre-based products to these homes/premises resulting in the gradual reduction in the use of copper-based services. Over the coming years, with the widespread availability of fibre-based networks and other modern technologies, the copper network will eventually be switched off (Copper Switch-off).
On 4 March 2021, Eircom shared with ComReg, and also published on its website, a white paper entitled “Copper switch-off: Leaving a legacy for the Future” (available on Eircom’s website here) in which Eircom signalled its intent to migrate copper-based services to largely fibre-based services and ultimately switch off its copper access network.
On 9 April 2021, ComReg published Information Notice 21/35 (available here) welcoming Eircom’s initiative and confirming that ComReg would engage with Eircom and other stakeholders on this important matter and would consult publicly in due course.
On 3 August 2021, ComReg published Call for Inputs, entitled “Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure: Call for Inputs” (available here). The Call for Inputs suggested possible key principles to govern copper switch-off from both a wholesale and retail perspective as well as possible principles for a framework governing Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure and the requirements to be met in these respects by Eircom as Significant Market Power (SMP) operator. Submissions were received from seven Industry stakeholders: ALTO, BT, Eircom, NBI, SIRO, Sky and Vodafone.
On 25 March 2022, in the interests of transparency, ComReg has published the submissions to the Call for Inputs (subject to the protection of any confidential information) which is available here.
With the benefit of the submissions to the Call for Inputs, ComReg published a Consultation outlining ComReg’s proposal for a Framework that would apply throughout Eircom’s transition from legacy infrastructure to modern infrastructure for so long as it is designated with SMP on relevant markets.
Submissions were received to this Consultation from eight industry stakeholders: ALTO, BT, Eircom, NBI, Speed Fibre Group, SIRO, Sky and Vodafone and sixteen individuals.
Following the consideration of the consultation responses and statutory notification to and responses from the European Commission, on 1 November 2023, ComReg published its Decision D09/23 entitled “Framework for the Migration from Legacy Infrastructure to Modern Infrastructure Decision”. The responses to the consultation and the final Decision D09/23 are available here.
On 23 September 2024, ComReg issued ‘Guidance for Retail Service Providers on Customer Migration from Copper-Based Electronic Communication Services – Management of Migration and Future Copper Switch-Off’. This is available here.
The first step in the execution of the Migration Framework will be for Eircom to draft a Switch Off Proposal and submit this to ComReg for approval. On being approved, the framework for Exchange Area by Exchange Area copper switch off will be implemented by Eircom in line with the stipulations of Decision D09/23.