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Broadband Router Options for UK FTTC ISPs – Integrated VDSL Modem

2nd Jan, 2014 (46 Comments)

The United Kingdom is home to several million hybrid fibre FTTC superfast broadband ISP subscribers but to date most of those have been forced to connect to the service by linking an existing router to one of BTOpenreach’s VDSL modems. Now a new breed of router has emerged that integrates VDSL and here are some of the options.

Do UK Broadband ISPs Try to Hide Complaint Contacts and ADR Info

27th Dec, 2013 (4 Comments)

The ability to make a complaint is often essential but how many Internet Service Providers are transparent about the process and do some intentionally attempt to make the necessary contacts and information hard for novice net users to find? ISPreview.co.uk examined seven of the markets primary broadband ISPs to find out.

Point Topic Backs Smaller ISPs to Fix UK Rural Superfast Broadband Woes

9th Dec, 2013 (9 Comments)

London-based broadband analyst firm Point Topic has told ISPreview.co.uk, as part of our exclusive interview, that hybrid fibre optic (FTTC, DOCSIS etc.) services are the best way of getting affordable superfast Internet access to 95% of the country by 2017 and that smaller (altnets) ISPs should play a “major role” in connecting the final 5%.

UK Fibre ISP Gigaclear Calls for More Predictable and Useful BDUK Contract

4th Nov, 2013 (19 Comments)

Gigaclear, which specialises in deploying ultrafast 1Gbps capable fibre optic (FTTP) networks into rural areas around the United Kingdom, has told ISPreview.co.uk as part of our exclusive interview that the Government needs to create a more “predictable and useful” Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) scheme that allows more than just BT to bid for contracts.

ISP AB Internet Warns Against UK Wireless Tax and a Pure Fibre Optic Focus

7th Oct, 2013 (3 Comments)

AB Internet has told ISPreview.co.uk, as part of our exclusive interview, that the Valuation Office Agency’s review of how its business rates can be applied to fixed wireless networks could result in a “whole segment of society” being “digitally marooned“. The ISP also warned against an “all roads must lead to fibre” approach to broadband.

Politics and the Top 4 Myths of a Delayed UK Superfast Broadband Rollout

18th Sep, 2013 (10 Comments)

Many positive things came out of the NAO and Public Accounts Committee’s recent efforts to pick apart BT and the government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme (here) but not all were helpful. In particular there are four myths about the projects aims and delays that continue to persist despite being largely inaccurate.

The Best UK Student Broadband and Phone Solutions for a New Term

7th Aug, 2013 (3 Comments)

It’s that time of year again. No sooner than you’ve finished school, returned from college or come home from University then you’ll have to start thinking about a new broadband and phone service for the next term. Naturally BT and Virgin Media have begun promoting their own solutions with 9 month contract terms but there are other options.

A Look at the Future Fibre to the Distribution Point FTTdp Broadband Tech

22nd Jul, 2013 (21 Comments)

Over the next few years it’s likely that you’ll soon start to hear more about a next generation broadband ISP technology called Fibre to the Distribution Point (FTTdp), which Ofcom are currently encouraging BT to trial. But what is FTTdp and will it really help UK homes and businesses to get ultrafast internet connections? Let’s take a look.

8 Top Tips for Keeping Your Wireless Broadband ISP Router Cool

9th Jul, 2013 (10 Comments)

Temperatures in some parts of United Kingdom are beginning to creep past 30c and this means that some of you, the unfortunate few, might be having the occasional problem with overheating broadband ISP routers and modem devices. So here are a few quick tips for avoiding this problem.

Big UK ISPs Should Make Critical Support Contacts Easier to Find

13th May, 2013 (8 Comments)

At some point nearly all of us, for good or ill, will need to contact our broadband ISP or phone provider but how hard is it to find the correct details and what sort of support services are on offer? ISPreview.co.uk took a long look at ten of the UK’s best known providers to see how they compared.

The Best Home Alternatives to WiFi Wireless Networks

3rd Apr, 2013 (5 Comments)

Wireless networks can be found pretty much everywhere, they’re in your home, on your mobile, on laptops, in games consoles, local cafes, banks and even some airplanes now offer internet access using wifi. But what do you do when wifi is stretched to its limits, are there any alternatives? Quite a few as it happens.

ISPreview Talks to Westminster City Council about its FREE O2 WiFi Service

11th Feb, 2013 (0 Comments)

Last year O2 UK signed a new deal to provide visitors and residents of Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea (i.e. Central London) with access to one of the largest free wireless internet (wifi) access zones in Europe. Today ISPreview.co.uk interviews both O2 and Westminster City Council (WCC) about what this means and how it’s been funded.

UPD ISPs React to the Dangers of Adopting IPv4 Internet Address Sharing

22nd Jan, 2013 (13 Comments)

Internet providers from around the United Kingdom have given a decidedly mixed response after we asked a group of them whether IPv4 address sharing (Carrier Grade NAT) was the future of fixed line broadband (i.e. until full IPv6 adoption). CGNAT allows a single IP address to be shared between several users but this can introduce serious problems.

The UK Best Broadband ISPs for 2013 – ISPreview Editors Pick

7th Jan, 2013 (22 Comments)

Choosing the right broadband ISP for your needs isn’t easy, especially in the United Kingdom’s aggressively competitive market that bombards consumers with a confusing array of different options and where performance varies based on a multitude of often opaque factors. So here’s our editors pick for 2013, which we hope will make your life a little easier. IMPORTANT: This article has now been superseded by the new 2017 edition – The Best Broadband ISPs for 2017.

Will the Real Fibre Optic Broadband Service Please Stand Up

2nd Jan, 2013 (31 Comments)

When is a “fibre optic” broadband service not fibre optic? The answer might seem obvious but if so then it’s not something that the industry appears keen to respect. But just what does the term fibre optic actually mean and why are ISPs so eager to use and in some cases abuse it.

Top 20 UK Local Authorities with the Highest Superfast Broadband Uptake

31st Dec, 2012 (10 Comments)

Ofcom’s most recent data reveals that superfast broadband (25Mbps+) ISP technology is now available to 65% of homes and businesses in the United Kingdom and yet just 7% of premises have actually adopted it. But where is superfast internet access most popular and why? The city of Portsmouth tops our new list with a take-up of 15.2%.

UPDATE Identifying Slow Speed as a Fault on FTTC Superfast Broadband Lines

27th Dec, 2012 (2 Comments)

Most people aren’t familiar with the point at which BT identifies slow speeds as a fault on its Fibre-to-the-Cabinet (FTTC) based superfast broadband ISP network. Did you know that a fault can be declared if the line rate drops by more than 25% over a 14 day continuous period? No? Read on.