Telecommunications companies worldwide are positioned to generate more than £10 billion from copper sales over the next 15 years as they systematically remove outdated cables from their networks, capitalising on growing demand for the vital metal.
Industry experts at TXO project operators will secure approximately £720 million from copper sales in 2025 alone. Major players including British Telecom, Nordic organisations Telia and Telenor, and Australia’s Telstra have already secured substantial payments for their recycled copper materials, which play a crucial role in the green energy transition.
The sector’s move to decommission legacy copper infrastructure comes amid the widespread adoption of full-fibre broadband and wireless technologies. Market forecasts suggest copper prices will reach £12,000 per metric tonne by 2035, representing a significant increase from the current £9,170 per tonne.
Telecoms giants are already reporting impressive returns. Telstra has generated AUD 211 million (£132 million) over two financial years, whilst BT secured a £105 million pre-payment for future copper sales. The British provider has also established a strategic partnership with recycler EMR through 2028.
The financial opportunity, however, presents notable challenges. Companies must navigate complex extraction processes, substantial recovery costs, and ongoing security concerns regarding copper theft. Several operators, including Belgium’s Proximus and Dutch firm KPN, report minimal profits due to these operational complexities.
Global copper demand is projected to surge by 70 percent from 2021 levels by 2050, driven by expanding power grid infrastructure and the electric vehicle revolution. This increasing demand, coupled with potential mining supply constraints, suggests sustained price strength in the copper market, potentially amplifying future returns for telecoms operators engaging in strategic metal recovery programmes.
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