Home » UK ISP News Archive » Monthly Archives: December 2013 (87 Posts Found)

ISP News Archives for December 2013

BT Openreach List Next 82 UK Exchanges for FTTP on Demand

17th Dec 2013 (48 Comments)

As promised BTOpenreach has today unveiled the next batch of telephone exchange upgrades for the FTTP on Demand (FoD / FTTPoD) service, which makes their “ultra-fast” 330Mbps (30Mbps uploads) capable fibre optic broadband product available via FTTC capable lines.

Greater Manchester Agree GBP15m BDUK and BT Fibre Broadband Rollout

17th Dec 2013 (1 Comment)

Several Greater Manchester authorities including Stockport, Bolton, Wigan, Bury, Tameside, Oldham, Trafford and Rochdale have signed a new £15 million deal that will see BT extend their “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network to a further 39,000 local premises by the end of March 2016 (900k have already been passed).

UPD Confusion Over Alleged GCHQ and NSA Backdoor in BT FTTC Modems

17th Dec 2013 (15 Comments)

Computer networks, especially the Internet, are complicated animals that can at times be difficult to understand, which may explain why a recent report that claims to have uncovered a secret backdoor for UK GCHQ and US NSA spies in BTOpenreach’s FTTC (VDSL) modems has gained such traction. But is it really a backdoor?

UK ISP Sky Broadband Removes Wrongful Imgur.com Website Block

17th Dec 2013 (4 Comments)

The approach of attempting to restrict access to Internet piracy websites by employing dumb DNS or IP based blocks (censorship) claimed another victim over the weekend after customers of Sky Broadband (BSkyB) found that they could no longer access online image sharing website imgur.com, which had been wrongfully blocked by the ISP.

Big TV Broadcasters Warn Ofcom Over UK White Space Broadband Plan

16th Dec 2013 (1 Comment)

The Digital UK group, which acts on behalf of the BBC, ITV, Arqiva and Channel 4, has offered its “support for the principle” of developing White Space Broadband technology. But it also warned that the regulators current approach raised “serious concerns” about potential for disruption to existing Digital Terrestrial TV (DTTV) coverage.

Christmas UK Network Freeze to Cause Some ISP Service Delays

16th Dec 2013 (6 Comments)

Consumers hoping to upgrade, get support or order a new broadband / phone service from their ISP over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, which usually lasts for two or three weeks, should be mindful of the annual Network Freeze around this period that can impact some systems and services.

UPDATE UK ISP BT Launch Parental Controls with Network Level Filtering

13th Dec 2013 (22 Comments)

As expected BT has today become the latest major UK home broadband ISP to launch FREE Parental Controls that include the Government demanded network-level filtering technology, which puts the Internet provider in charge of blocking access to adult websites; but only if you agree not to disable it.

UK ISPs Sky Broadband and Virgin Media Attract the Least Complaints in Q3

13th Dec 2013 (5 Comments)

Ofcom’s latest quarterly customer complaints report for Q3 2013 has revealed that Sky Broadband and Virgin Media have continued to attract the fewest consumer gripes out of all the major fixed line broadband and phone providers. By comparison BT and EE saw their complaint levels skyrocket.

FibreSpeed Now Operating as an Independent Commercial Business

13th Dec 2013 (1 Comment)

FibreSpeed, which was established in 2009 as a Welsh Government, GEO Networks and EU funded project to build a fibre optic communications and broadband network across North Wales (UK), has announced that it’s now operating as an independent commercial business.

Copper Cable Theft Knocks Out Sky Broadband in South and West London

13th Dec 2013 (2 Comments)

Tens of thousands of Sky Broadband customers in the South and West London area have been left without broadband and phone connectivity after thieves, whom attempted to steal vital copper telecoms cable from a site in West London (Great West Road) on 10th December, cut several vital fibre optic links.

UPDATE2 BT in Court for “Fibre broadband is here” Adverts on Street Cabs

13th Dec 2013 (47 Comments)

BT is being taken to court by Bridgend County Borough Council in Glamorgan (South Wales) for putting allegedly illegal advertising for its latest superfast broadband (FTTC) product on the front of its new Street Cabinets, which is a reference to the text and stickers that many of you will have already seen stating: “Fibre broadband is here“.

Government Publishes Cyber Security Principles for UK ISPs

12th Dec 2013 (1 Comment)

The Government has today published a series of “aspirational” and “voluntary guiding principles” that have been designed to help improve online security for customers of the country’s major broadband ISPs. Better late than never?

Ofcom Claims UK NGA Broadband Uptake Beats International Rivals

12th Dec 2013 (10 Comments)

The telecoms regulator has today published their annual 2013 International Communications Market Report (ICMR), which looks at the adoption, coverage and the uptake of broadband, phone, mobile, TV and radio services across 16 of the world’s major countries. The report found that the UK can hold its own against the heavy weights and consumer satisfaction with superfast broadband is very high.

Scotland UK Assigns GBP9 Million to Rural Broadband Development

12th Dec 2013 (0 Comments)

The Scottish Government has this week launched a formal consultation for its new seven-year £1.3 billion+ Rural Development Programme (SRDP), which includes a vague proposal to spend an extra £9 million on broadband infrastructure in rural areas by 2020.

Ofcom Make UK Calls to 0800, 0808 and 116 Numbers Free for all Phones

12th Dec 2013 (18 Comments)

The communications regulator has today introduced new measures to help simplify call charges for 08, 09, 116, 118 numbers and to ensure that calls made to 0800, 0808 and 116 numbers are FREE from mobiles as well as fixed phone lines. But it won’t happen for a while.

ISP PlusNet UK Slashes Unlimited Broadband and Calls Price to GBP1.99

11th Dec 2013 (7 Comments)

One of our readers has spotted that the price of PlusNet’s 16Mbps unlimited standard broadband and free weekend calls bundle has quietly been cut once again, from £9.99 to just £1.99 a month, for the first 12 months of service (note: it’s also on a 12 month contract).

First Great Western Trains UK to Expand FREE WiFi Service

11th Dec 2013 (2 Comments)

Rail operator First Great Western (FGW), which has already made a free wireless internet service available at 23 stations across the United Kingdom via The Cloud (BSkyB), has announced that it’s working with Nomad Digital to ensure that all 53 of their High Speed Trains and Night Riviera trains are also fitted with WiFi.