Verizon is using these breakdowns to upgrade its network.

It is common knowledge that Verizon is not fond of copper phone lines and now the carrier plans on ditching these old copper wire networks for fiber optic cables.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has reported citing documents in its possessions which details a “Fibre is the Only Fix” policy that essentially boils down to the fact that if you want assistance, you better shift to fibre.

If your phone uses copper in an area that already fibre services, technicians are likely to tell you that the most effective solution to your problem would be to upgrade to a newer technology. Verizon’s official stance is to refuse any repairs on copper.

So as to not be caught on the wrong foot, Verizon is quick to inform that copper-to-fibre solutions have been in the market for the last four years. Moving to fibre makes more sense for Verizon since it is a “better technology, more reliable, and has fewer service issues.”

In a certain sense Verizon is right: not only is internet access much faster in fibre optic, but also it is more reliable, since it is less prone to interruptions during bad weather.

Furthermore, all U.S. carriers will have to provide a 24 hour backup phone service at the very least from 2018 onwards, so the argument of power outages effecting fibre optic solutions has a very short lifespan.

As you have right guessed, the problem is that as a customer you don’t really have a say in the matter. Naturally, Verizon could obviously fix the copper related problems easily, but it is using these breakdowns to upgrade its network to fibre optic.

It’s much talked about “transparent” behaviuor with customers concerning upgrading to fibre optic solutions, is more talk than fact. Its actions and motivations are revealing.