Most network operators predict that ageing infrastructure – including copper, 2G, and 3G – will remain in service for the foreseeable future, however, the high cost of maintaining legacy networks is putting significant financial and operational pressure on service providers.

That’s according to sustainable technology solutions firm TXO latest report, The Telecoms Legacy Burden, which found that despite positive modernisation efforts across the industry, 79% of operators say their copper networks will be operational until at least 2028, while more than a quarter (28%) expect them to last until 2030 or beyond.

Similarly, 43% of service providers report that 2G networks will not be fully phased out until 2030, with nearly a fifth (19%) predicting decommissioning efforts will continue beyond that date.

TXO’s study, which polled 231 network decision-makers at telecom firms across the UK and North America, found that 81% of respondents said these legacy networks are hindering their ability to roll out new services, and limiting their competitiveness against greenfield operators.

With 98% of network decision-makers reporting that maintaining ageing infrastructure has increased overall operational costs, the financial burden of managing legacy infrastructure is a growing concern.

According to TXO’s study, major outages caused by legacy networks resulting in downtime costing businesses an average of £1,073,684 per year, with 98% of firms reporting that maintaining ageing infrastructure has increased operational costs.

Despite these mounting challenges, TXO claims that telcos remain cautious about large-scale decommissioning as three-quarters of respondents said they have delayed phasing out older networks, with 53% saying that they have delayed decommissioning due to labour shortages.

The burden associated with the upkeep of legacy networks means that operators are finding themselves hamstrung when trying to roll out newer services.

Almost all (97%) of firms reported having to divert resources from investments in new tech like fibre or 5G in order to maintain older infrastructure.

“Outages on legacy infrastructure are more frequent and disruptive than ever,” said John Teasdale, group chief network officer at TXO.

“Operators are caught in a challenging cycle where legacy networks are becoming increasingly costly to maintain, yet full decommissioning is still years away. 

“The continued reliance on copper and legacy mobile networks is a major hurdle to new network innovations in 5G and fibre, hindering competitiveness and sustainability.”

Recommended reading

• Gigabit Broadband on Track for 97% UK Coverage by 2027
• 167K New Scottish Homes Lined Up for Openreach Broadband Boost
• How Can Online Access Be Widened to Remote, Underserved Areas?

Beyond the financial and operational impact of relying on legacy systems, telco businesses are increasingly concerned with the environmental impact of their equipment.

Over half of telco firms (52%) agreed that ageing copper networks consumed between 20%-30% more power than newer networks, while more than one in four said these systems could require up to 50% more energy than fibre offerings. 

Encouragingly, operators are beginning to embrace circular economy initiatives as a solution, with 85% planning to resell copper infrastructure as part of their strategies, and 80% having similar plans for 2G and 3G equipment.

“With the right expertise and infrastructure, operators can recover value from retired equipment while accelerating their sustainability goals,” said Simon Wort, CEO at TXO.

“By reselling, recycling, and reusing network assets, the industry is taking a crucial step toward a more circular economy – one that reduces waste, lowers costs, and builds a greener, more resilient technology sector.”