Home » UK ISP News Archive » Yearly Archives: 2017 (1100 Posts Found)

ISP News Archives for 2017

National Assembly for Wales Proposes Plan to Improve Broadband and Mobile

20th Sep 2017 (2 Comments)

A National Assembly Committee has published a report that makes 12 recommendations for how Wales (UK) could bring faster broadband to poorly served premises and improve Mobile (4G etc.) connectivity, such as making future subsidies for landowners conditional on them allowing mobile masts.

UPD Mobile Operators Moan Over Lack of Access to Openreach’s Cable Ducts

20th Sep 2017 (7 Comments)

Mobile operators O2, Three UK and Vodafone have warned that a recent decision by Ofcom, which prevented them from accessing Openreach’s (BT) existing cable ducts and telegraph poles in order to build new fibre optic backhaul links, could hinder the deployment of future ultrafast 5G Mobile services.

Scotland Commits to Free Urban WiFi and Business Rates Relief on New Fibre

20th Sep 2017 (0 Comments)

The SNP controlled Scottish Government has this month set out their work programme for 2017-18, which among the known broadband promises (R100) has also pledged to deliver free WiFi “throughout major town and city centres” and to match the UK Government’s rates relief on new fibre investment.

EE UK Starts Legal Challenge to Stop Cap on 3.4GHz 5G Mobile Spectrum

19th Sep 2017 (9 Comments)

Mobile operator EE (BT) has formally lodged a legal appeal against the matter of Ofcom’s forthcoming 4G / 5G radio spectrum auction in the 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands. The aim is to stop Three UK’s own challenge from imposing a cap on their ability to bid for a slice of 3.4GHz band.

Ultrafast Broadband Helps Fuel the Top 20 UK Places to Start a Business

19th Sep 2017 (6 Comments)

A new study from business support firm Informi claims to have identified some of top 20 best cities and large towns in the United Kingdom to start a small business, with Ipswich (Suffolk) taking the top spot. Interestingly one of the key criteria is a strong level of access to “ultrafast broadband“.

UK Network Operator Openreach Gives its Website a New Lick of Paint

19th Sep 2017 (15 Comments)

Openreach has today launched a new website, which includes a fair bit of updated information about the national telecoms and broadband network, as well as reflecting some of the independent branding requirements that were introduced as part of BT’s recent Strategic Review agreement with Ofcom.

Ofcom Toughens UK Consumer Protection Rules for Phone and Broadband ISPs

19th Sep 2017 (0 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today announced that they will introduce a series of changes to improve their consumer protection rules from 1st October 2018, which aim to tackle billing accuracy, debt collection, nuisance calls, complaints handling and support for those with disabilities.

Sckipio Unveils Next Generation G.fast Ultrafast Broadband Chipsets Today

18th Sep 2017 (42 Comments)

Israel-based Sckipio, which created some of the kit that Openreach (BT) piloted as part of their 330Mbps G.fast broadband roll-out, has promised “true 1Gbps speeds” by becoming one of the first to launch a chipset based off the ITU-T’s Amendment 3 (212MHz) profile. Plus there’s a 96-port DPU.

ScotRail Trains Test up to 300Mbps “Superfast” On-Board Wi-Fi Service

18th Sep 2017 (0 Comments)

Scottish train operator ScotRail has partnered up with Cisco, CGI, Network Rail Telecoms and Wittos to conduct a Proof of Concept trial to enable “super-fast” WiFi on trains (Project SWIFT), which could offer data speeds of up to 300Mbps (allegedly the “fastest in-train Wi-Fi service in the world“).

AAISP Pokes Fun at Sky Broadband’s 55Mbps “Minimum Speed Guarantee”

18th Sep 2017 (11 Comments)

Internet provider Andrews & Arnold (AAISP) has attempted to spoof modern advertising practices and Sky Broadband’s recent offer of a 55Mbps “Minimum Speed Guarantee” by proposing to go one further with a 56Mbps guarantee. Naturally they’re quick to explain the caveats.

Ultrafast Fibre Optic FTTP Broadband Networks Cover 1.1 Million UK Premises

18th Sep 2017 (12 Comments)

The roll-out of “ultrafast” fibre optic broadband services using Gigabit capable FTTH/P/B technologies is continuing to ramp up in 2017, with our latest annual estimate of total premises passed across the United Kingdom reaching 1,084,500 (up from 780k in 2016) and this is set to surge.

UK ISP Plusnet Sacks Rude Call Centre Worker for Insulting a Customer

15th Sep 2017 (15 Comments)

Internet provider Plusnet has “wholeheartedly” apologised to one of their broadband subscribers, who had contacted the ISP in the hope of getting his Direct Debit date changed but instead found his surname being substituted with the C-word (hint, it’s not cat) by a call centre worker.

BT Posts Specific Technical Requirements for G.fast Broadband Modems

15th Sep 2017 (9 Comments)

Telecoms operator BT has updated their technical document (SIN520) for the new 330Mbps G.fast hybrid fibre broadband technology to include the specific technical requirements for end-user modems, which is what Openreach and ISPs will supply to homes and businesses.

Explaining KCOM’s Plan for a 10Mbps Broadband USO in Hull, East Yorkshire

15th Sep 2017 (4 Comments)

Over the past two years we’ve heard plenty of debate about the Government and BT’s proposed plan for a legally-binding 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation for broadband, although there’s been very little talk about KCOM’s position in Hull and East Yorkshire, where they dominate the local market.

Loss of Phone Number Dilemma Strikes BT’s FTTP Ultrafast Broadband

15th Sep 2017 (54 Comments)

Everybody seems to want “full fibre” broadband, but there are caveats. People moving into new build developments, specifically those that are only being served by Openreach’s (BT) FTTP “ultrafast broadband” technology, are running into problems because they’re unable to keep their phone number.

United Nations Publishes Global Broadband Progress Report for 2017

14th Sep 2017 (0 Comments)

The United Nations (UN) has today publish its annual ‘State of Broadband‘ global progress report, which reveals that while 48% of the global population is now online, some 3.9bn people still do not have access to the Internet and the digital gap is growing between developed and developing countries.

Ofcom Tweak UK Broadband Quality and FTTC Price Cut Plans for Openreach

14th Sep 2017 (0 Comments)

Earlier this year Ofcom proposed to impose a raft of new Quality of Service standards and charge controls upon Openreach’s (BT) national broadband and phone network (here). Today the regulator has published a revision, which changes some of the proposed targets.