Phased switch-off of copper broadband network

Fibre broadband has been rolled out to 90% of houses and businesses on the island

A four-year phased switch-off of the copper broadband network is set to begin next year.

Manx Telecom (MT), which has responsibility for the roll-out of fibre on the Isle of Man, said it would be disconnected region by region starting in the west.

The firm said the faster broadband was now available to more than 90% of homes and businesses, with more than half of the people now using the infrastructure.

MT's chief technical officer Hugo van Zyl said the switch-off was an "essential step" in the modernisation of the island's telecommunications infrastructure.

MT said residents and businesses would be notified 12 months before their region was disconnected.

A traffic light system has been developed for those who had not transitioned to fibre yet, in which green denoted that fibre was available, amber that it was available but additional installation steps may be required, and red highlighting it was not yet available.

The phasing out has been split into six zones, with the disconnection of the first two set to begin in January.

Disconnection zones

Zone 1: Foxdale, Kirk Michael, St John's

Zone 2: Andreas, Ballaugh, Bride, Jurby, Sulby

Zone 3: Dalby, Glen Maye, Laxey, Peel

Zone 4: Braaid, Crosby, Glen Auldyn, Glen Vine, Maughold, Ramsey, Strang, Union Mills

Zone 5: Ballabeg, Ballasalla, Bradda, Castletown, Colby, Cregneash, Derbyhaven, Port Erin, Port St Mary

Zone 6: Baldrine, Douglas, Newtown, Onchan, Port Soderick

The roll-out of the technology has cost £50m, with £11.63m funded by the government's national broadband plan aimed at areas that were not considered commercially viable.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston told Tynwald members that fibre broadband would be available to 99% of premises next year.

Under the nine intervention areas of the plan, Manx Telecom had just under 300 properties left to make the technology available for by August 2025, he said.

However, earlier this year, a number of plans for the installation of poles as part of the national broadband plan were rejected, with Manx Telecom previously saying it would need to consider its options, which could lead to delays.