Home » UK ISP News Archive » Monthly Archives: May 2014 (105 Posts Found)

ISP News Archives for May 2014

Cable ISP Virgin Media Reaches 4536200 UK Broadband Subscribers

7th May 2014 (0 Comments)

Cable operator Virgin Media (Liberty Global) has today released their latest Q1-2014 (calendar) results, which reported that the provider’s total broadband ISP subscriber base had grown by +25,700 subscribers in the quarter (up from +21.9k in Q4-2013) to reach 4,536,200 customers. But rumours of a Virgin National (Virgin.net ADSL) sale continue to loom overhead.

UPDATE ASA Slap BT Broadband Checker for Misleading Speed Estimate

7th May 2014 (26 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority has triggered some confusion after it ruled that an Internet download speed estimate provided by the superfast broadband BTInfinity (FTTC) “availability checker” on BT’s consumer website (bt.com) was “misleading” because the complainant could not receive the speed promoted. The ruling could also have repercussions for other ISPs.

First 2G and 3G Mobile Services Go LIVE in the Chunnels North Tunnel

6th May 2014 (6 Comments)

Eurotunnel has today confirmed that Le Shuttle and High Speed Train commuters travelling along the Channel Tunnel (North Tunnel) route, which links the UK to France, can now access 2G and 3G based mobile phone and mobile broadband connectivity via EE and Vodafone (O2 will soon follow) thanks to a new fibre optic based GSP-P retransmission system. 4G is coming soon.

Arthur D.Little Report Warns FTTC Broadband is Not Future Proof

6th May 2014 (19 Comments)

A new report from Arthur D.Little and Exane BNP Paribas, which examines the Capital Expenditure (Capex) of European telecoms operators, has warned that incumbent providers will face a growing divide versus cable and pure fibre optic (FTTH/P) ISPs because the cheaper and slower hybrid-cheap (FTTC) approach is “not future-proof“.

ITU Ranks UK 7th Globally for Fixed Broadband Subscriptions by Speed

6th May 2014 (0 Comments)

The International Telecommunication Union has released its annual Information and Communications Technology (ICT) figures for 2014, which ranks the United Kingdom 7th for fixed broadband subscriptions by service speed. But it also appears to exclude a few big countries (e.g. Australia) and curiously lists France as 2nd from the top while Sweden and Japan’s national FTTH networks seem underrated.

BT Prepare Phase 2 Vectoring Trials to Boost UK FTTC Broadband Speeds

6th May 2014 (31 Comments)

BTOpenreach has decided to extend their on-going trials of VDSL Vectoring (ITU-T G.993.5) technology into a second phase, which could improve the speeds delivered via BT’s existing “up to” 80Mbps hybrid-fibre (FTTC) superfast broadband network by helping to eliminate interference (crosstalk). But it might also push any future roll-out back to late 2014 or 2015.

UPD Virgin Media UK Launch Big Bundles of Quad Play Broadband and Mobile

6th May 2014 (0 Comments)

Cable provider Virgin Media has announced that existing customers will today become the first who can order from their new range of customisable quad-play “Big Bundles“, which adds an optional mobile SIM tariff alongside the usual mix of superfast broadband, TV and fixed line phone services.

Sky Puts NOW TV Price Rise on Hold – Gives No Reason

4th May 2014 (5 Comments)

Sky’s broadband-based NOW TV video streaming service, which includes access to ten major live premium TV channels like Sky One and Sky Atlantic via the Entertainment Pass, has put their 29th May 2014 plans for a 40% price hike on hold.

Shropshire UK Struggles to Afford £11.38m Superfast Broadband Extension

4th May 2014 (11 Comments)

Shropshire County Council has warned that £11.38 million of additional state aid allocated to the region under the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) extension programme, which seeks to boost the UK’s national fixed line superfast broadband (25Mbps+) coverage target to 95% by 2017, is at risk of being lost due the council’s limited finances.

Vodafone UK Launch 4G Mobile Broadband Roaming in 4 EU Countries

2nd May 2014 (4 Comments)

Mobile operator Vodafone UK has announced that customers of their Red 4G plans (including business travellers) will now also be able to make use of “ultrafast” Mobile Broadband connectivity when roaming across Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Actor Simon Pegg Complains of GBP21000 BT Bill for Broadband Upgrade

2nd May 2014 (65 Comments)

The famous British comedian, actor and writer, Simon Pegg (‘Shaun of the Dead’, ‘StarTrek’, ‘The World’s End’ etc.), has taken to Twitter in order to have a grumble about BT after the national UK telecoms operator agreed to “hook our street up for broadband“, albeit at a cost of £21,000.

KC Fibre Broadband Rollout Update – 32000 Premises Passed in Hull UK

2nd May 2014 (2 Comments)

Telecoms operator KC (KCOM Group), which serves Hull and some other parts of East Yorkshire in England, has confirmed that their superfast 350Mbps capable fibre optic (FTTP/C) Lightstream broadband product has now passed 32,000 homes and businesses with 9,000 customers connected (28% uptake) and more areas confirmed for the future upgrade plan.

Free Public WiFi More Important to Customers than the Drinks in UK Cafes

1st May 2014 (1 Comment)

A new survey conducted by Samsung UK has found that 37% will choose coffee shops based on the availability of free WiFi rather the quality of the tea or coffee being served. So it’s no surprise to find that 69% of Brits work remotely from coffee shops at least twice a week. But apparently what cafes really need is.. a printer.

Sky’s Broadband NOW TV Entertainment Pass Sees 40 Percent Price Hike

1st May 2014 (6 Comments)

Customers who pay £4.99 per month for the Entertainment Pass on Sky’s broadband-based NOW TV video streaming service, which includes live access to ten major channels like Sky One and Sky Atlantic, are about to be hit by a 40% price hike. The Sky Movies Pass will also suffer an increase.

EE UK Offers 6 Months Half Price FTTC Superfast Fibre Broadband

1st May 2014 (1 Comment)

EE has made their superfast “Unlimited Fibre Broadband” (FTTC) packages, which offer download speeds of up to 76Mbps and currently benefit from a reduced one-off connection fee of £25, even cheaper by extending the existing 3 months half-price promotion to last for 6 months (hard luck if you signed up last month).

GEO Networks Extends London Metro Fibre Optic Network to Croydon

1st May 2014 (2 Comments)

GEO Networks, a dedicated fibre optic solutions provider, has confirmed a 14.5km long expansion of its network into south London (Croydon), an area that appears to be rife with the growth of new businesses and related developments.

Questions for Low Uptake of UK Business Broadband Connection Vouchers

1st May 2014 (4 Comments)

The Government’s Connection Vouchers scheme, which is part of the £150m “Super-Connected Cities” initiative to help SME businesses install superfast broadband (30Mbps+), has been criticised for low uptake in Oxford, Portsmouth and Brighton. Curiously one of the reasons given is that businesses don’t need the speeds it offers.