BT projected to earn £2bn from copper recycling amid AI boom

BT is projected to generate an estimated windfall of over £2 billion over the next decade by selling decommissioned copper cabling. This revenue surge is driven by soaring copper prices, fueled by global demand for AI data centers, electronics, and renewable energy infrastructure.

Through its subsidiary Openreach, BT is transitioning the UK network to full-fiber broadband, aiming to reach 30 million homes by the end of the decade. As users migrate to fiber, surplus copper from the legacy network is being recovered and sold. BT has a recycling agreement with EMR, the UK’s largest cable granulation company, and recently received an upfront payment of £99 million. This follows a £105 million payment received in 2024.

In the most recent fiscal year, Openreach recovered nearly 10,000 tonnes of copper, a significant increase from previous years. Since the program began in 2023, the company has processed a total of 22,347 tonnes. The financial benefit is amplified by market volatility; while the average copper price was approximately $8,500 per tonne when the program launched, recent prices have approached record highs near $14,500 per metric tonne.