Non-Fibre Broadband Deals — ADSL Options Before the Switch-Off (2026)

Non-fibre broadband uses the old Openreach copper network to deliver average speeds of 10–11 Mbps. In 2026, ADSL deals start from around £14–£22 per month, but with FTTP now covering 82% of UK premises and the PSTN copper switch-off set for January 2027, most households can upgrade to faster fibre for a similar price.

What Is Non-Fibre Broadband?

Non-fibre broadband — often called standard or ADSL broadband — runs entirely over Openreach's copper telephone lines. Data travels from your local exchange to a street cabinet, then along a copper cable to your home. Because copper degrades signal over distance, speeds drop the further you live from the exchange. Ofcom data shows the UK average for ADSL is roughly 11 Mbps download and under 1 Mbps upload. That is significantly slower than part-fibre (FTTC) at 30–70 Mbps or full fibre (FTTP) at 100–900 Mbps. Providers such as BT, Plusnet and Sky still list ADSL packages, though they no longer promote them on their main deal pages.

Who Still Needs a Non-Fibre Deal?

A small number of households still rely on ADSL because fibre has not yet reached their address. This affects roughly 2% of UK premises that lack any fibre option, mainly in rural and remote areas. If you cannot get fibre, the Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) guarantees a legal right to request a connection of at least 10 Mbps. Openreach must provide it if the build cost stays under £3,400. Some rural homes may find 4G or 5G home broadband a better alternative, with providers like EE offering 4G plans from £15 per month delivering average speeds of around 10 Mbps. For light internet users — browsing, email and standard-definition streaming — ADSL's 10 Mbps can still cope, but it struggles with 4K video (which needs 25 Mbps per device) and households with multiple simultaneous users.

Non-Fibre vs Fibre: Price and Speed Comparison

ADSL deals in March 2026 typically cost £14–£25 per month, but many come with steep mid-contract price rises — some jumping to over £38 per month from April 2026. Meanwhile, entry-level fibre deals from providers like Vodafone start at around £23 per month for 150 Mbps full fibre, and Virgin Media's M125 package offers 132 Mbps from £17.99 per month with no price rise until 2027. That means fibre can actually cost less than ADSL while delivering 10–15 times the speed. Upload speeds tell an even starker story: ADSL manages under 1 Mbps, while FTTP connections typically offer 20–50 Mbps upload. For video calls, cloud backups and working from home, that difference is enormous. The only scenario where ADSL remains cheaper is if you find a promotional deal under £15 per month on a short contract.

The Copper Switch-Off and What It Means

Openreach is retiring the copper PSTN network by January 2027. Once an exchange is switched off, ADSL broadband and traditional landlines will stop working. Openreach has already begun decommissioning exchanges in areas with high fibre coverage, and over 100 exchanges are in various stages of the stop-sell process. If you are on an ADSL deal, your provider should contact you before your exchange closes. You will need to move to a fibre-based or digital voice service. The 14-day cooling-off period applies to all new broadband contracts, so you can switch risk-free. One Touch Switch — which processed over 1.6 million switches in its first year — makes the process seamless: your new provider handles everything, and there is no need to contact your old one. If you are currently paying over £20 per month for ADSL, comparing fibre deals from providers like TalkTalk now could save you money and future hassle.

Compare Broadband Deals at Your Address

Enter your postcode on CompareFibre to see every broadband deal available at your address — including fibre upgrades that may cost less than your current ADSL plan. With the copper network closing in January 2027, now is the ideal time to switch to a faster, more reliable connection.

Non-Fibre Broadband FAQs

Is ADSL broadband being switched off?

Yes. Openreach is retiring the copper PSTN network by January 2027. ADSL relies on copper lines, so once your local exchange is decommissioned, ADSL will no longer be available. Your provider should notify you in advance and help you migrate to a fibre or digital alternative.

Can I still get a non-fibre broadband deal in 2026?

Some providers still offer ADSL packages, but availability is shrinking as Openreach rolls out fibre and begins stop-sells on copper. Deals start from around £14 per month for 10 Mbps, though mid-contract price rises can push costs above £38 per month.

What speed do I get with non-fibre broadband?

ADSL delivers average download speeds of 10–11 Mbps and upload speeds under 1 Mbps. Actual speeds depend on your distance from the telephone exchange — homes further away receive slower connections due to signal loss over copper cables.

Is non-fibre broadband cheaper than fibre?

Not always. Entry-level full fibre deals now start from under £18 per month for speeds of 130–150 Mbps. Many ADSL deals cost £20–£25 per month for just 10 Mbps, making fibre significantly better value per megabit in most areas.

Related Guides

Fibre Broadband Explained · Broadband Speeds Explained · Broadband for Rural Areas · PSTN Switch-Off Explained · Broadband Social Tariffs

Methodology

CompareFibre checks broadband pricing and availability daily against provider websites, Ofcom data and Openreach coverage updates. Speed figures use advertised average download speeds (available to at least 50% of customers at peak time). Pricing reflects the headline monthly cost before any mid-contract rises. We receive a commission when you switch through our links, but this never affects our editorial recommendations. Guide last reviewed March 2026.