Home » UK ISP News Archive » Monthly Archives: December 2018 (77 Posts Found)

ISP News Archives for December 2018

CMA Seek Urgent Action to Tackle Mobile and Broadband Loyalty Penalties

19th Dec 2018 (2 Comments)

The Competition and Markets Authority has concluded its “super-complaint” probe into how UK consumers who remain loyal to a broadband ISP or mobile operator often end up paying “significantly more” than new customers. In response they’ve called for “urgent action” to tackle related issues and protect vulnerable users.

Special Offer for New Openreach Full Fibre Infrastructure Build Product

19th Dec 2018 (32 Comments)

Openreach (BT) has announced that they’ve introduced an exemption up to £2800 on the first Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) or Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband connection charge, when ordered following network provision via their new Full Fibre Infrastructure Build (FFIB) product.

Challenges as UK Moves to All IP Networks from Analogue Phone

18th Dec 2018 (23 Comments)

A new report from the Broadband Stakeholders Group has warned that work to retire the old Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and replace it with all-IP voice services by c.2025 will face a number of challenges, particularly around ensuring resilient access to emergency services and encouraging user migrations.

2018 ICMR Compares UK Broadband and Mobile to 17 Countries

18th Dec 2018 (0 Comments)

Ofcom has today published their International Communications Market Report 2018 (ICMR), which broadly compares broadband and mobile networks in the United Kingdom with 17 other countries and the EU. Overall the UK does well for fixed line superfast broadband and 4G mobile, but we’re weak on “full fibre” (FTTP).

Ofcom Consult on UK Mobile Spectrum Sharing and 5G Auctions UPDATE

18th Dec 2018 (3 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has moved to improve 4G and future 5G mobile coverage by setting out their plans for “spectrum sharing” in the 1800MHz, 2300MHz and 3.8-4.2GHz bands, as well as finalising new coverage obligations for next year’s auction of the 700MHz band. The 3.6GHz – 3.8GHz bands will also be auctioned.

2018 Infrastructure Report Shows State of UK Broadband and Mobile

18th Dec 2018 (3 Comments)

Ofcom has released their annual infrastructure report, which reveals that just 2% of the UK (677,000 premises) cannot access a 10Mbps capable fixed line broadband ISP service (down from 4% in 2017), while “full fibre” (FTTP) is available to 6% (up from 3%) and geographic coverage of 4G mobile has hit 66% (up from 43%).

Cityfibre Hail Largest £1.12bn Debt Financing for UK Full Fibre Rollout

18th Dec 2018 (18 Comments)

Cityfibre has today confirmed that they’ve put in place a new debt financing package worth £1.12bn, which will support their wider £2.5bn roll-out (details) of a new 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network to cover 5 million premises across 37 UK cities and towns by the end of 2024.

Whitespace Technology and Microsoft Target Faster Rural Broadband

17th Dec 2018 (6 Comments)

Sheffield-based company Whitespace Technology (WT) has joined forces with Microsoft as part of a new “strategic collaboration” that will aim to use a TV White Space (TVWS) based wireless network to extend faster broadband connectivity into remote rural parts of the UK, Europe and Africa.

9000 Extra South Yorkshire UK Premises to See Ultrafast Broadband

17th Dec 2018 (2 Comments)

The state aid supported Superfast South Yorkshire project has today announced the signing of a new £10m+ contract with Openreach (BT). This will aim to roll-out a 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network to cover an additional 9,000 premises by Spring 2021.

28% of UK Consumers Fear an Internet Outage Could Ruin Christmas

17th Dec 2018 (17 Comments)

A new Censuswide survey of 2,010 consumers, which was conducted on behalf of UK ISP Zen Internet, has found that 60% of Brits using the internet on Christmas Day believe that their broadband going down would impact celebrations and 28% think it could ruin the day.

Mobile Operators Face 900MHz and 1800MHz Licence Fee Hike Again

17th Dec 2018 (7 Comments)

After years of delay and court battles Ofcom have today set the annual licence fees (ALF) that O2, Vodafone, Three UK (H3G) and EE will pay for their 2G, 3G and 4G Mobile services in the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands. The regulator has separately proposed fees for UK Broadband’s (H3G) holdings at 3.4GHz and 3.6GHz.

Virgin Media Discounts Prices of UK Standalone Broadband for XMas

17th Dec 2018 (30 Comments)

Cable ISP Virgin Media has this morning discounted the prices of their standalone ultrafast broadband (no phone service required) packages for the first 12 months of service by -£10 (monthly) each. For example, the entry-level 54Mbps (average speed) package will be reduced from £35 to just £25.

Telecoms Disputes Over Wayleaves, Rents Threaten to Become Toxic

17th Dec 2018 (4 Comments)

A few months ago the Government’s Digital Minister, Margot James MP, warned that some UK telecoms (mobile and broadband) operators were pushing land / building owners into accepting “derisory payments” for access to install their infrastructure (wayleave agreements). Today the situation is still far from resolved.

British Fibre Networks Sign-up 24000 UK Homes for FTTH Broadband

14th Dec 2018 (11 Comments)

New operator British Fibre Networks, which aspires to create an open access and 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband ISP network to serve over 35% of UK new build homes by 2020, has announced that they’ve so far signed up 24,000 new homes via 50 housing developers.

One Year Extension for UK Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme UPDATE2

14th Dec 2018 (13 Comments)

The UK Government’s Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme, which offers grants worth up to £350 for rural homes and businesses that are unable to get at least a 2Mbps download speed (i.e. helps them to get a faster ISP connection installed), appears to have been extended again until the end of 2019.

Three UK Secure Key Change to Boost 5G Wireless Broadband Plans

14th Dec 2018 (38 Comments)

Ofcom has granted a small but controversial change to the part of the 3.6GHz band owned by mobile operator Three UK (H3G, UK Broadband Ltd.), which will give them access to a 100MHz block of contiguous spectrum that may result in faster 5G based mobile and fixed wireless networks. But BT, O2 and Vodafone aren’t happy.

Ofcom Probes UK Broadband ISP Prices and Tries to Boost Take-up UPDATE

14th Dec 2018 (33 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today launched a new review of broadband pricing to examine whether loyal (existing) and vulnerable ISP customers are being ripped-off. On top of that they’ve also set out their final proposals for end-of-contract notification letters, which will soon also tell you about the best deals.