The analysis shows that while the copper transition is progressing, it remains uneven across Europe. Norway and Spain have completed their copper shutdowns, with incumbent operators fully decommissioning their legacy networks. In Greece, the incumbent operator has stopped activating new copper lines in certain areas, representing a further step towards copper dismantling.
Within incumbent operators' networks, the fiber share of total active access lines increased on average from 53% to 62% in the countries analyzed. This figure reflects the growing replacement of copper with fiber in incumbent infrastructures, but it does not represent the total national penetration of FTTH, which also depends on deployments by alternative operators. Significant differences persist in countries such as Germany and the Czech Republic, where incumbent operators still rely heavily on copper networks.
Transparency in planning remains limited. In nine countries, copper shutdown plans are publicly available, while in others, such as Portugal, plans exist but have not been made public. In Ireland, discussions between the national regulatory authority and the incumbent operator are at an advanced stage, although a formal plan has not yet been published.
From a regulatory perspective, the study confirms that no national regulatory authority has set a binding deadline for the copper switch-off in the countries analyzed. However, in several markets—including Denmark, France, Luxembourg, and Sweden—incumbent operators have announced voluntary target dates for completing the process.
Under the current regulatory framework, national authorities cannot compel operators to switch off their copper networks or impose mandatory timelines. However, the proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA), if adopted, could significantly redefine the regulatory framework and accelerate copper switch-off plans in several countries by offering greater flexibility and incentives for the complete migration to fiber-based networks.
“Having a clear and orderly plan for the copper phase-out will spur new investment and accelerate the full adoption of fiber networks across Europe,” said Francesco Nonno, president of the FTTH Council Europe. “As our report shows, these conditions are not yet met in all European markets,” he added.
“The FTTH Council Europe welcomes the copper network switch-off plan proposed in the Digital Networks Act. The process strikes the right balance between the need to incentivize the adoption of future-proof networks, consideration of national specificities, and the avoidance of unintended consequences for consumers,” said Vincent Garnier, Director General of the FTTH Council Europe.
Following the presentation by the FTTH Council Europe on the results of the Copper Switch-Off, a panel with representatives from the European Commission, regulatory authorities and industry experts analyzed the political, economic and technical implications of the copper switch-off, especially in the context of recent European policy initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable infrastructure.
Through regular updates, the Copper Switch-Off Tracker will provide an up-to-date view of countries' progress in their transition from copper to fiber. The FTTH Council Europe expects to continue monitoring this evolution in support of a competitive future European fiber market.
