Home » UK ISP News Archive » Monthly Archives: April 2020 (96 Posts Found)

ISP News Archives for April 2020

Alternative Full Fibre ISPs Aim for 15.7 Million UK Premises by 2025

8th Apr 2020 (7 Comments)

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) and Point Topic have today estimated that alternative “full fibre” (FTTP/B) broadband ISPs grew their UK coverage by 50% in 2019 (up from 23% last year) and now reach 1,223,168 premises passed. Going forward such providers aspire to cover 15,734,673 by the end of 2025.

Wireless UK ISP Wildanet Get £400k to Grow Cornwall Network

8th Apr 2020 (1 Comment)

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) ISP Wildanet, which is working to extend their superfast broadband network to rural premises across parts of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and possibly South Wales, has secured additional equity investment of £400,000 from the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Investment Fund (CIOSIF).

EE UK Adverts Banned for “UNBEATABLE” No.1 Network Claims

8th Apr 2020 (46 Comments)

A complaint by rival mobile operator Three UK has prompted the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to ban a string of adverts for EE’s 4G and 5G network, which were all found to have made “misleading” claims of being the United Kingdom’s “No.1 network“, as well as being “UNRIVALLED” and “UNBEATABLE.“

Copper Thieves Shun Lockdown, Cut Broadband in West Cumbria

7th Apr 2020 (29 Comments)

Police have launched an investigation after hundreds of homes in Maryport, West Cumbria (England), were left without access to vital broadband connections following the theft of copper telecoms cables from Openreach’s (BT) local network during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis.

Free Daytime Calls for Virgin Media’s Vulnerable Phone Customers

7th Apr 2020 (5 Comments)

Customers of cable broadband ISP Virgin Media UK, specifically those classified as “elderly” (aged 65+) or “vulnerable” and taking the operator’s landline phone service, are being given “free daytime calls” so they can stay connected “at no extra cost” during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis.

Zen and Direct Save Telecom Named Top ISPs by Genie for 2020

7th Apr 2020 (0 Comments)

The annual Broadband Genie 2020 survey has today presented several awards to Zen Internet and Direct Save Telecom (DST), which saw both UK ISPs scoop wins across multiple categories. In particular Zen scooped the “Best Broadband Provider” accolade among others, while DST won for value and customer care.

Vodafone UK Removing £60 New Broadband Line Install Fee

7th Apr 2020 (5 Comments)

Mobile operator and ISP Vodafone UK informs us that customers taking one of their FTTC based “superfast home broadband” packages, specifically those who will need a brand new copper line installed, won’t have to pay the usual £60 one-off installation charge if they order before the end of April 2020.

The Hidden Catch to Zero Rated UK Mobile Data on NHS Sites

7th Apr 2020 (3 Comments)

Over the past few weeks all of the major UK mobile operators (O2, Vodafone, etc.) have responded to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by, among other things, zero rating (no charge) data usage on specific support websites (e.g. NHS). But this doesn’t always work as advertised and can still eat into your allowance.

Three UK Launch 4G Home Broadband Plan with 1 Month Term

6th Apr 2020 (15 Comments)

Mobile operator Three UK has, as part of its response to the COVID-19 crisis, launched a new “unlimited” 4G or 5G “Home Broadband” plan with a monthly rolling contract option (intended to complement the previous 12 and 24 month terms). A special plan has also been launched for use by NHS workers.

Virgin Media UK Gives All TV Customers 18 Extra Channels Free

6th Apr 2020 (3 Comments)

Customer’s of Virgin Media’s broadband ISP network, specifically those who also take their Pay TV service, may be pleased to know that the operator is giving all of them access to 18 of their “most popular entertainment channels” at no extra cost until 2nd May 2020.

ISP BT Commits to Protect UK Jobs and Pay During COVID-19

6th Apr 2020 (7 Comments)

Telecoms giant and broadband ISP BT has today gone further in its response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by pledging that “no employee” will lose their job in the “foreseeable future” (defined as “at least the next three months“) and continuing to “pay all employees’ salaries in full” (i.e. no publicly funded “furlough“).

COVID-19 – UK Government Gets Tough on Criminal 5G Vandals

6th Apr 2020 (0 Comments)

Over the past couple of weeks the increasingly absurd anti-5G campaign has taken a chilling turn. Videos have emerged of arson against several UK mobile masts and engineers being abused while doing their jobs. The criminal activity has been fuelled by a bogus conspiracy theory that links the spread of COVID-19 to the 5G roll-out.

COVID-19 – Openreach Update on Future G.fast and FTTP Plans

6th Apr 2020 (22 Comments)

In an unsurprising development Openreach (BT) has informed UK broadband ISPs that, due to the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis, future G.fast and Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) build plans beyond last month “are not available.” Related engineering work to extend the network continues but has been scaled-back.

Rural ISP Gigaclear Signs £525m Long-Term Funding Strategy

3rd Apr 2020 (13 Comments)

Rural UK full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP Gigaclear, which since last year has been working with their investment partner Infracapital to develop a “long-term funding strategy” (including an assessment of further debt funding), has today confirmed to ISPreview.co.uk that they’ve secured £525m in financing.

Virgin Media UK Launch WiFi Calling for Mobile Customers

3rd Apr 2020 (24 Comments)

Customers of Virgin Mobile UK (Virgin Media), specifically their Pay Monthly subscribers, may be pleased to know that the operator has today launched the ‘Wi-Fi Calling‘ feature on their service at no additional cost, with usage deducted from your existing airtime allowance. But you’ll need a supporting Smartphone to benefit.

Tesco Mobile UK Gives Away Free Unlimited Off-Peak Calls

3rd Apr 2020 (18 Comments)

The mobile wing of Supermarket giant Tesco, Tesco Mobile, has today announced that they’re giving free “unlimited” evening and weekend calls to all 5.2 million of their customers, which is intended to help them stay connected with their loved ones during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

NOW TV Add National Geographic Channel to Streaming Service

3rd Apr 2020 (3 Comments)

Sky’s sibling UK ISP and TV streaming service, NOW TV (NOW Broadband), has just added the ‘National Geographic Channel‘ to their existing Entertainment Pass, which costs £8.99 per month. The additional Pay TV channel replaces Nat Geo Wild. As usual this covers both the live channel and a related slate of on-demand content.