BT Projects Over £2bn from Copper Sales Amid AI-Driven Price Surge

BT is set to achieve an estimated £2bn from selling old copper cabling over the next decade, driven by record copper prices and the transition to full-fibre broadband. The company has recorded a significant recovery of nearly 10,000 tonnes of copper for the year ending March, with plans to recover up to 200,000 tonnes through its Openreach subsidiary.

The ongoing price surge, following a record closing price of $14,294 per tonne, has increased the market value of BT's copper reserves. Openreach is also addressing copper theft with anti-theft technologies, which have reportedly decreased theft incidents by 30%. However, challenges remain as not all cables can be protected by these measures.