Copper has been at the heart of telecommunications for more than a century, but its future looks uncertain. A recent PwC report warned that global supply shortages could pose a major risk to industries still reliant on copper, including semiconductors and telecoms. For network operators, this isn’t just a challenge. It’s also a chance to unlock value hidden in ageing infrastructure.
In a recent interview with IoT Insider, TXO’s Group CTO John Teasdale explained how operators can turn disruption into opportunity by embracing circular economy principles and rethinking how legacy networks are managed.
The pressure on operators
“Operators are under pressure on multiple fronts,” said Teasdale. “On the one hand, there’s relentless demand for more bandwidth, driven by AI workloads, 5G rollout, and the explosion of data-heavy applications. On the other hand, operators are facing tighter margins, higher energy costs, and growing scrutiny around sustainability.”
Copper as a resource, not waste
For Teasdale, legacy networks don’t just represent a burden. “Our expert team steps in to decommission and audit entire networks, giving operators a clear view of the real value hidden in old infrastructure,” he explained. “It’s a huge opportunity to fund both the decommissioning of outdated assets and the rollout of new ones.”
He pointed to BT as a leading example: “BT is leading the charge, having generated £105 million from the resale of its old copper cables, 3,300 tonnes so far from a potential 200,000.”
This potential isn’t limited to one operator. “By providing a reliable second-use market, we unlock value trapped in legacy infrastructure, reduce waste, and provide cost-effective alternatives to new OEM equipment,” Teasdale added. “This not only supports environmental goals but helps operators mitigate supply chain risks and avoid procurement delays.”
Prepared operators will benefit most
Copper shortages may not be the deciding factor in fibre rollout timelines, but preparedness will determine how smoothly operators make the shift.
“In the UK, we’ve seen real momentum, with the copper switch-off firmly on the agenda and fibre rollout advancing at pace,” Teasdale said. “Other geographies, like the US, are progressing more slowly – by early 2024, only around 52% of US homes and businesses have had access to gigabit cable broadband compared to 80% in the UK.”
“The most prepared operators were treating the shift as a technology upgrade and a chance to embrace the circular economy,” he added. “We see this approach as a marker of maturity – operators who integrate sustainability and financial pragmatism into their fibre strategies are far better placed to make the transition successfully.”
Building a circular future
“The shortages looming over copper supplies is not ‘an abstract risk’, and calls for not only greater preparedness, but also by making the most of legacy equipment through resale, to reduce reliance on newly mined copper, and embracing a circular economy approach,” Teasdale stressed.
“There’s a real opportunity to treat this legacy infrastructure as a resource, not waste,” he concluded. “Through urban mining and responsible asset recovery, operators can extract and recycle copper that’s already in the ground. No single measure will fully close the gap PwC has highlighted, but extending the lifecycle of existing assets and embracing circular practices can reduce reliance on newly extracted copper, cut costs, and minimise environmental impact.”