Like anything in scope, this has been trialled (using a fibre city location) and with further trials going into 2020 it is expected 'x' amount of Exchanges to be switched off on a weekly basis from 2020-2025.
I'll start off by saying I'm in no way questioning what you've been briefed, but it's the opposite of what's been briefed to media/industry.
Would be interested to know how they are going to close exchanges before WLR/PSTN are switched off.
I've not seen anything to suggest exchange closures prior to 2025 and logistically don't see how that's even feasible with some still only having access to ADSL services.
Exchanges with LLU presence are unlikely to be closed prior to 2025 as they are still in consultation over how and when things will be done.
Exchanges with no LLU presence tend to be more rural and would need full FTTx coverage from a parent/handover exchange before xDSL services could be switch off.
Even then that only covers broadband and would leave everyone without a voice option.
but as mooted VoB (Voice over Broadband) should be in play by Dec 2025.
Which is the earliest I would expect exchange closures, for that very reason.
Happy to be informed otherwise but I can't see how they would do this without leaving people without services.
WLR stop sell isn't until 2023 with it being retired Dec 2025
https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/wlrwithdrawal/wlrwithdrawal/downloads/Sept_2019_Newsletter_Issue_3.pdfThe Mildenhall exchange trial (the main VOIP trial exchange) doesn't end till Dec 2022.
Mildenhall isn't a Handover exchange.
Proposed Trial Timeline:
o Start voluntary migrations October 2019
o Notification of products stop sell January 2020
o SOTAP pilot start January 2021
o Products stop sell January 2021
o Orphaned asset migration start January 2022
o Withdrawal of stopped products in trial area 5 December 2022
o Trial closure 5 December 2022
Even on this trial exchange the stop sell will not be exchange wide but at an individual property level.
https://www.scribd.com/document/428870779/New-Openreach-Industry-Consultation-FTTP-Exchange-Upgrade-and-Single-Order-1When OpenReach talk about the WLR/PSTN switch off they cite SOTAP as 1 of the alternatives.
6) What are you going to do about voice only customers who don’t want broadband?
The introduction of the SOTAP product will ensure that end customers that cannot get fibre (coverage) can access an ADSL broadband service over which voice can be provided and a low speed fibre option is be considered for voice only customers. CPs that buy the Openreach MPF service and provide voice only services to end customers will not be impacted by WLR withdrawal.
That requires the copper exchange to stay where it is, until such a time there's full GEA coverage.