Telekom to phase out copper technology by 2028

Telekom is planning to decommission its old copper technology by the end of 2028. This transition will affect approximately 1.3 million customers who use landline connections solely for telephony without internet services.

These customers, often referred to in the industry as “sleepers,” currently rely on MSAN-POTS connections that function via pure copper lines to the exchange. Telekom spokesperson Niels Hafenrichter stated that the company aims to remove this old technology because it is prone to interference and becomes increasingly expensive to maintain. As a replacement, the company is offering wireless LTE-based tariffs, which may result in higher costs for some affected users.