Summary report on the outcome of a BEREC internal workshop on the migration to very high capacity networks and copper switch-off with a focus on the needs of the end-users

Electronic communications network operators are rolling out fibre closer to the end-users and the importance of the copper-based access network is declining. Therefore, NRAs are increasingly confronted with the situation where the SMP operator wants to decommission its legacy copper-based access network and close e.g. main distribution frames (MDFs). The NRAs have to apply the provisions of Article 81 of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) , taking into utmost account the new European Commission Gigabit Connectivity Recommendation.

BEREC already held an internal workshop on ‘Migration from legacy infrastructures to fibre-based networks’ in 2019 and published a report on a consistent approach to migration and copper switch-off in 2022 as well as an opinion on the draft European Commission Gigabit Connectivity Recommendation including a section on the topic ‘migration and copper switch-off’ in 2023. Migration to very high capacity networks and copper switch-off is an important ongoing process, in particular also for end-users, and therefore, BEREC examined this topic further and held an internal workshop on 7 September 2023 in Brussels consisting of three parts.