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News
News Categories: General (Default) | Dialup | DSL (ADSL etc.) | Cable/FTTx | Satellite | Wireless | IPTV | VoIP
25 July, 2008 - 1:18 PM
Mobile operator Three (Hutchison Whampoa) has managed to sign-up one million Mobile Broadband customers across all of its various Europe bases, including the UK, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Austria. However, Christian Salbaing, Managing Director European Telecoms at Hutchison Whampoa, warned that high roaming rates could still hinder the market:
Meanwhile, chip giant Intel has predicted that portable Internet-enabled devices will grow to 1.2bn by 2012 and 100m households will be watching IPTV by 2011.
"Mobile broadband’s greatest strength is its mobility, yet consumers are rightly fearful of the excessive charges faced when they roam off our networks. Some networks are charging the equivalent of €12 to watch a three minute YouTube clip or up to €180 to download an hour of television, this could inflict serious harm on a growing market.
The EC has an opportunity to bring the same clarity and value to data roaming as it did so successfully with voice last year. The difference between domestic and roaming data rates is far greater than with voice, only wholesale action can put an end to charges that are sometimes hundreds of times greater than our customers pay at home," he commented.
The EC has an opportunity to bring the same clarity and value to data roaming as it did so successfully with voice last year. The difference between domestic and roaming data rates is far greater than with voice, only wholesale action can put an end to charges that are sometimes hundreds of times greater than our customers pay at home," he commented.
Meanwhile, chip giant Intel has predicted that portable Internet-enabled devices will grow to 1.2bn by 2012 and 100m households will be watching IPTV by 2011.
25 July, 2008 - 1:08 PM
Independent UK research conducted by Canvasse Opinion from Experian on behalf of moneysupermarket has revealed that one in five (17%) people admit to downloading from the Internet illegally. The survey received a total of 1001 responses from parents of children aged 3-15:
The study follows yesterdays signing of a major new anti-piracy initiative between the creative industry and UK ISPs (here).
- Almost half (46 per cent) of parents do not monitor what websites their children access every time they go online.
- One in eight (12 per cent) people are unaware of the legality of their downloads.
- Only two in 10 (21 per cent) parents use parental control software on their home computer.
- Over two thirds (67 per cent) of downloaders do not pay for the files.
- Almost half (45 per cent) confess to buying illegal/copied discs.
The study follows yesterdays signing of a major new anti-piracy initiative between the creative industry and UK ISPs (here).
25 July, 2008 - 8:52 AM
Several of the UKs most prominent ISPs have failed to patch a critical Domain Name System (DNS) vulnerability in their networks, which was openly exposed for use by hackers earlier this week. The Internet's DNS is responsible for translating Internet Protocol (IP) addresses into human readable form (e.g. "87.106.71.228" becomes "ispreview.co.uk") and vica versa
BT, Sky Broadband, The Carphone Warehouse (Opal Telecom, TalkTalk, AOL), T-Mobile, Orange and Griffin Internet were named in The Register's informal survey of ISP customers. The flaw itself was first publicly disclosed at the start of this month (original news) by security expert Dan Kaminsky, although it had been discovered several months earlier.
Exact details of how to manipulate the flaw were supposed to be kept secret while a global security update was conducted, unfortunately the patch was swiftly reverse engineered (hardly surprising) and exploit code revealed.
Kaminsky had already setup a simple DNS Checker application on his blog, which allowed ordinary surfers to detect whether or not their ISPs DNS servers were patched. Sadly the providers listed above failed this test, suggesting that their customers could now be extremely vulnerable to the exploit.
The vulnerability itself could allow hackers to redirect your browsing activity to fake webpage’s and thus make phishing attacks even easier. Typically it can take time for larger networks to deploy the update, although it's probably fair to say that time is something they no longer have the luxury of.
Those using the free OpenDNS system to replace their ISPs own primary and secondary DNS servers need not worry. If your provider is vulnerable then it may be a good interim solution: http://www.opendns.org .
BT, Sky Broadband, The Carphone Warehouse (Opal Telecom, TalkTalk, AOL), T-Mobile, Orange and Griffin Internet were named in The Register's informal survey of ISP customers. The flaw itself was first publicly disclosed at the start of this month (original news) by security expert Dan Kaminsky, although it had been discovered several months earlier.
Exact details of how to manipulate the flaw were supposed to be kept secret while a global security update was conducted, unfortunately the patch was swiftly reverse engineered (hardly surprising) and exploit code revealed.
Kaminsky had already setup a simple DNS Checker application on his blog, which allowed ordinary surfers to detect whether or not their ISPs DNS servers were patched. Sadly the providers listed above failed this test, suggesting that their customers could now be extremely vulnerable to the exploit.
The vulnerability itself could allow hackers to redirect your browsing activity to fake webpage’s and thus make phishing attacks even easier. Typically it can take time for larger networks to deploy the update, although it's probably fair to say that time is something they no longer have the luxury of.
Those using the free OpenDNS system to replace their ISPs own primary and secondary DNS servers need not worry. If your provider is vulnerable then it may be a good interim solution: http://www.opendns.org .
25 July, 2008 - 8:31 AM
The Head of Marketing at popular UK ISP Be Broadband (O2), Oli White, has issued a general comment to the media with regards to its own stance on yesterdays new illegal file-sharing deal (news). White welcomed the deal between six of the UKs major ISPs and creative (music and film) industry, though it has chosen to stick with established methods of dealing with such offences:
The process described is more or less identical to the one employed by most UK ISPs prior to yesterday’s agreement, which has left many smaller and medium sized providers out of the mix. Unfortunately it may only be a matter of time before the new deal, once refined, becomes a mandatory code of practice for the entire industry.
"Be welcomes today’s announcement form the BPI that ISPs should engage in communicating the issue of illegal file-sharing to their customers. As Be grows its member base we are getting an increasing number of requests from 3rd parties for information about members who they believe have infringed their copyright or other intellectual property rights. Be has a policy of making it clear to our members of how Be* deals with these requests.
Where a content owner (like a record label or a games company) approaches Be and requests the details of a member because of an alleged copyright infringement we will not supply this information direct to the requester unless they have a Court Order. To keep members informed of what’s going on in most circumstances we will try to contact the member in question to make them aware that we have had a request from the rights holder.
Under circumstances when a Court Order is served on Be, which requires us to supply information about member activity, we will comply with the Order and pass the relevant contact information to the rights holder (and in accordance with our Privacy and cookie policy). In this case under most circumstance we will not inform the member that this has occurred as this may compromise the investigation related to the Court Order."
Where a content owner (like a record label or a games company) approaches Be and requests the details of a member because of an alleged copyright infringement we will not supply this information direct to the requester unless they have a Court Order. To keep members informed of what’s going on in most circumstances we will try to contact the member in question to make them aware that we have had a request from the rights holder.
Under circumstances when a Court Order is served on Be, which requires us to supply information about member activity, we will comply with the Order and pass the relevant contact information to the rights holder (and in accordance with our Privacy and cookie policy). In this case under most circumstance we will not inform the member that this has occurred as this may compromise the investigation related to the Court Order."
The process described is more or less identical to the one employed by most UK ISPs prior to yesterday’s agreement, which has left many smaller and medium sized providers out of the mix. Unfortunately it may only be a matter of time before the new deal, once refined, becomes a mandatory code of practice for the entire industry.
24 July, 2008 - 1:14 PM
The latest research from Gartner predicts continued growth of worldwide consumer broadband connections, which will rise from 323m connections in 2007 to 499m in 2012. Likewise, the global penetration rate of such connections will also rise from 18% to 25% over the same period:
Five countries exceeded 60% broadband penetration into the home in 2007; and, this is expected to grow to 17 countries by 2012. The five countries are Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea and Hong Kong; sadly the UK came somewhat further down the list with 58%:
“Depending on the specific market conditions, availability of Internet-enabled devices and the continued impact of broadband on consumer lifestyles, we expect some markets will have a broadband ceiling at 80% penetration or greater,” said Amanda Sabia, principal research analyst at Gartner.
Five countries exceeded 60% broadband penetration into the home in 2007; and, this is expected to grow to 17 countries by 2012. The five countries are Canada, Netherlands, Switzerland, South Korea and Hong Kong; sadly the UK came somewhat further down the list with 58%:
Country Broadband Penetration - (2007) - (2012)
South Korea - (93.0%) - (97.0%)
Netherlands - (74.0%) - (82.0%)
Hong Kong - (76.0%) - (81.0%)
Canada - (65.0%) - (79.0%)
United States - (54.0%) - (77.0%)
Japan - (54.0%) - (77.0%)
Switzerland - (69.0%) - (76.0%)
Singapore - (57.0%) - (75.0%)
United Kingdom - (58.0%) - (74.0%)
Taiwan (59.0%) - (74.0%)
France - (58.0%) - (73.0%)
Australia - (52.0%) - (72.0%)
Sweden - (58.0%) - (69.0%)
Spain - (54.0%) - (68.0%)
Germany - (49.0%) - (68.0%)
Belgium - (55.0%) - (66.0%)
New Zealand - (43.0%) - (64.0%)
South Korea - (93.0%) - (97.0%)
Netherlands - (74.0%) - (82.0%)
Hong Kong - (76.0%) - (81.0%)
Canada - (65.0%) - (79.0%)
United States - (54.0%) - (77.0%)
Japan - (54.0%) - (77.0%)
Switzerland - (69.0%) - (76.0%)
Singapore - (57.0%) - (75.0%)
United Kingdom - (58.0%) - (74.0%)
Taiwan (59.0%) - (74.0%)
France - (58.0%) - (73.0%)
Australia - (52.0%) - (72.0%)
Sweden - (58.0%) - (69.0%)
Spain - (54.0%) - (68.0%)
Germany - (49.0%) - (68.0%)
Belgium - (55.0%) - (66.0%)
New Zealand - (43.0%) - (64.0%)
24 July, 2008 - 9:15 AM
Virgin Media's chief technology officer, Howard Watson, has told Reuters in an interview that the cable provider plans to offer broadband speeds of 'up to' 200Mbps by 2012. The move would be part of Virgin's on-going broadband investment strategy and will include the freeing up of extra capacity on its network:
The move could also cause BT a headache or two, which recently announced plans to spend £1.5bn rolling out an 'up to' 100Mbps fibre optic service in the UK over a similar timeframe.
Naturally faster services can also increase usage and Virgin Media has been using trials of its forthcoming 50Mbps product, which is due out by the middle of next year, to test consumer consumption habits:
One method that Virgin will pursue to free up extra capacity is to move its remaining analogue TV customers on to more efficient digital platforms by the end of 2009. Watson also rejected the idea of opening its network up to wholesaling just because BT will soon enter the fibre optic / cable market, at least for now.
"We are setting ourselves a vision of households using 200 MB per second by 2012," he said. "The current technology that we're investing in to roll out the 50 MB per second over the next 12 months has inherent within it that extra capability."
The move could also cause BT a headache or two, which recently announced plans to spend £1.5bn rolling out an 'up to' 100Mbps fibre optic service in the UK over a similar timeframe.
Naturally faster services can also increase usage and Virgin Media has been using trials of its forthcoming 50Mbps product, which is due out by the middle of next year, to test consumer consumption habits:
"If you take a 20 MB customer (on to 50 MB), on day one or two you might see a relatively small increase in usage but by day 60 or 65 they're using 50 MB per second quite easily," he said.
"(We saw) a lot more video downloading, a lot more online gaming, file sharing and generally a lot more communication with others."
"(We saw) a lot more video downloading, a lot more online gaming, file sharing and generally a lot more communication with others."
One method that Virgin will pursue to free up extra capacity is to move its remaining analogue TV customers on to more efficient digital platforms by the end of 2009. Watson also rejected the idea of opening its network up to wholesaling just because BT will soon enter the fibre optic / cable market, at least for now.
24 July, 2008 - 8:57 AM
Following a little later than most, IDNet's Director, Simon Davies, has kindly issued us with his comment on BT's recently announced rollout of fibre optic broadband services to the UK:
In related news, we've been able to confirm with some other UK ISPs what those taking BT Wholesale's Broadband Managed Connect (WBMC) product may not be able to introduce 'up to' 24Mbps ADSL2+ services until early 2009 or late 2008 at best.
Some providers are also uncertain as to how long it will be before BT allows them to migrate their broadband subscribers (in bulk) from the older IPStream ADSL platform to the newer WBMC ADSL2+ one.
"We think this is great news. A big step forward for consumer connectivity, on a par with the leap from dial-up to ADSL. ISP networks need to be continually upgraded to cope with increasing demand. As long as the pricing model is sustainable then the finance should be available for the investment needed to cope with fibre-to-the-home.
Any ISP promoting a fibre connection with "unlimited" download usage will probably want to upgrade their advertising. But then this is an issue that the regulator should be addressing today."
Any ISP promoting a fibre connection with "unlimited" download usage will probably want to upgrade their advertising. But then this is an issue that the regulator should be addressing today."
In related news, we've been able to confirm with some other UK ISPs what those taking BT Wholesale's Broadband Managed Connect (WBMC) product may not be able to introduce 'up to' 24Mbps ADSL2+ services until early 2009 or late 2008 at best.
Some providers are also uncertain as to how long it will be before BT allows them to migrate their broadband subscribers (in bulk) from the older IPStream ADSL platform to the newer WBMC ADSL2+ one.
24 July, 2008 - 8:47 AM
UPDATE 12:47: The BPI has now issued an official press release, confirming much of what has been said already. Scroll to the bottom of this news for further details.
Six of the UK's largest ISPs, which account for roughly 90% of the country's broadband market, have agreed to a land-mark anti-piracy deal ('Memorandum of Understanding') with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA), Ofcom and governments Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR).
The ISPs, which will be officially named later but should include BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, Carphone Warehouse (TalkTalk, AOL) and BSkyB, have agreed to the principal of sending warning letters to customers that have been accused of downloading illegal music or movies etc.
It's believed that a deal was only reached after the creative industry watered down a request for ISPs to disconnect customers that failed to heed a provider’s initial warning. Precisely what action ISPs will take in the event of an ignored warning is not yet clear, although the use of aggressive traffic management/shaping and or connection monitoring is allegedly on the cards.
Clearly some elements of the proposed "memorandum" have not yet been fully agreed, which could result in an initially limited system being introduced. Either way, the originally BPI proposed "Three-Strikes" system appears to have been abandoned, at least for now.
It's also understood, as has been reported before, that UK ISPs are working to introduce some form of discount music subscription system alongside their broadband packages. We do not yet know whether this is likely to form any part of today’s initial agreement, although it will probably follow at a later date.
Readers wishing to know more about the problem and why it has come about should read our special editorial - 'To Ban or Not to Ban (Illegal File Sharers)'. More later..
UPDATE 12:47:
Six of the UK's largest ISPs, which account for roughly 90% of the country's broadband market, have agreed to a land-mark anti-piracy deal ('Memorandum of Understanding') with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA), Ofcom and governments Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR).
The ISPs, which will be officially named later but should include BT, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali, Carphone Warehouse (TalkTalk, AOL) and BSkyB, have agreed to the principal of sending warning letters to customers that have been accused of downloading illegal music or movies etc.
It's believed that a deal was only reached after the creative industry watered down a request for ISPs to disconnect customers that failed to heed a provider’s initial warning. Precisely what action ISPs will take in the event of an ignored warning is not yet clear, although the use of aggressive traffic management/shaping and or connection monitoring is allegedly on the cards.
Clearly some elements of the proposed "memorandum" have not yet been fully agreed, which could result in an initially limited system being introduced. Either way, the originally BPI proposed "Three-Strikes" system appears to have been abandoned, at least for now.
It's also understood, as has been reported before, that UK ISPs are working to introduce some form of discount music subscription system alongside their broadband packages. We do not yet know whether this is likely to form any part of today’s initial agreement, although it will probably follow at a later date.
Readers wishing to know more about the problem and why it has come about should read our special editorial - 'To Ban or Not to Ban (Illegal File Sharers)'. More later..
UPDATE 12:47:
Quote from the BPI's press release:
The MOU places joint commitments on the signatories to continue developing consumer education programmes and legal online services. Most importantly, for the first time ISPs will be required to work with music and other rightsholders towards a “significant reduction” in illegal filesharing.
To achieve this, in the first year hundreds of thousands of informative letters will be sent by participating ISPs to customers whose accounts have been identified by BPI as being used illegally. In addition, under the auspices of Ofcom, the signatories will work together to identify effective mechanisms to deal with repeat offenders.
Alongside the MOU, BERR has today published a consultation on proposed new legislation requiring ISPs to deal effectively with illegal filesharing. It is anticipated that the outcome of this consultation will provide a co-regulatory backdrop to the MOU.
The MOU places joint commitments on the signatories to continue developing consumer education programmes and legal online services. Most importantly, for the first time ISPs will be required to work with music and other rightsholders towards a “significant reduction” in illegal filesharing.
To achieve this, in the first year hundreds of thousands of informative letters will be sent by participating ISPs to customers whose accounts have been identified by BPI as being used illegally. In addition, under the auspices of Ofcom, the signatories will work together to identify effective mechanisms to deal with repeat offenders.
Alongside the MOU, BERR has today published a consultation on proposed new legislation requiring ISPs to deal effectively with illegal filesharing. It is anticipated that the outcome of this consultation will provide a co-regulatory backdrop to the MOU.
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