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Latest Key Developments

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Government Responsibility for UK Broadband and Mobile Returns to DCMS

23rd Jul, 2026 (1 Comment)

After a few days of conflicting messaging, the Government in Westminster did yesterday confirm that responsibility for all things broadband and mobile related – this includes programmes covered by the Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency and related aspects – has been shifted back to a re-named Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). But now the ‘D’ stands for Digital (I guess.. DDCMS?).

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Ofcom Adopt Shared Upper 6GHz Band for UK Mobile and Wi-Fi Networks

20th Jul, 2026 (5 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today decided to implement their plan for allowing Low Power Indoor (LPI) Wi-Fi and outdoor mobile broadband (4G, 5G etc.) networks to “share” access to the Upper 6GHz radio spectrum band (6425 to 7125MHz). The UK will thus become the first country in Europe to adopt this, but mobile networks won’t be able to harness it until after 2030.

Ofcom Investigates Multiple UK Broadband Networks Over Liability Funds UPDATE

16th Jul, 2026 (4 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has opened investigations into several alternative full fibre broadband networks (altnets) – including Internetty, Cambridge Fibre Networks, Optical Fibre Infrastructure, Pine Media and Trooli – after they found “reasonable grounds to believe” that they may not be meeting their duties to show they have secured funds for meeting their liabilities.

Ofcom Introduce New UK Rules to Tackle Mobile Messaging Scams UPDATE

15th Jul, 2026 (7 Comments)

The UK internet content, telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has this morning published a “comprehensive package of practical measures” to help UK mobile network operators “block, limit and disrupt scammers” from sending messaging scams. In addition, they’ve strengthened rules to help protect people from international calls that imitate – or “spoof” – UK mobile numbers.

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Building Controls Updated to Fix Stalled Fibre Broadband Rollouts for Big Buildings UPDATE

9th Jul, 2026 (7 Comments)

The Ministry of Housing (MHCLG) and UK ISP Association (ISPA) have today unveiled crucial changes to address the current problem with the Building Safety Regulator’s (BSR) approval processes in England, which are known to have caused big delays and increased costs for broadband and mobile operators trying to deploy full fibre networks into large buildings (MDUs etc.).

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Broadband Altnets Spar with Ofcom Over Openreach UK Copper Line Retirement

7th Jul, 2026 (28 Comments)

The UK telecom regulator’s proposal in their Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR), which sought to adopt a different approach to copper line retirement in favour of full fibre optic (FTTP) broadband lines on Openreach’s national UK network, has, perhaps predictably, attracted criticism from rivals that worry it may hand the incumbent an advantage.

CMA Fast Tracks Nexfibre £2bn Netomnia Broadband Merger to Phase 2 Competition Probe

1st Jul, 2026 (16 Comments)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today announced that it will skip a Phase 1 review of the proposed £2bn acquisition (here) of alternative full fibre UK broadband operator Netomnia (Substantial Group) by nexfibre (Liberty Global, Telefónica and InfraVia), which will instead see them skip right to a deeper Phase 2 competition investigation.

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Gov Consults on UK Plan for Terrestrial TV Switch Off and Broadband Support

23rd Jun, 2026 (36 Comments)

The Government has today proposed to switch-off terrestrial TV signals in either 2034 or 2044 as part of a wider change to reflect the move to internet-based streaming, provided broadband coverage is ready to support the transition (they expect it to be). Support will also be provided to the UK homes that may struggle to afford broadband, possibly backed by a new subsidy scheme.

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Ofcom Update Guidance on Power Backup and Resilience in UK Mobile Networks

16th Jun, 2026 (8 Comments)

The UK telecoms and internet content regulator, Ofcom, has published a revised guidance document on network resilience, which was first published in 2024 (here) to give broadband, mobile and other digital network providers greater clarity on how they can “reduce the risk of network outages“. The new update clarifies their stance on power backup for mobile cell / mast sites.

Government Confirms UK Internet Social Media BAN for Children Under 16 UPDATE2

15th Jun, 2026 (39 Comments)

The Prime Minister of the UK Government, Sir Keir Starmer, has today confirmed that they will introduce an internet Social Media Ban for children under the age of 16 against ten popular platforms (TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, X, Threads, Facebook and Kick). But that’s not the only restriction they’ll be introducing.

Ofcom Close UK Broadband ISP Switching Enforcement Programme

11th Jun, 2026 (7 Comments)

The UK telecoms, media and internet content regulator, Ofcom, has closed their enforcement programme for the newest consumer broadband and phone switching system (One Touch Switching). The regulator found that, despite some initial problems, the majority of customers are now successfully switching providers using OTS.

BDUK Publish Annual 2026 UK Gigabit Broadband Rollout Progress Report

11th Jun, 2026 (1 Comment)

The Government’s Building Digital UK agency has today published an annual progress report on their publicly subsidised gigabit broadband rollout schemes. The data reveals that some 1.42 million premises have now received coverage under BDUK’s gigabit programmes since their inception, including 192,570 premises in 2025/26 alone.

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NAO Finds Ofcom Must Improve UK Broadband Regs for Vulnerable Consumers

10th Jun, 2026 (4 Comments)

The National Audit Office (NAO), which acts as an independent public spending watchdog for the UK, has today published a new report that examines the work done by Ofwat, Ofgem and Ofcom to ensure that residential consumers of water and energy supplies and broadband services – particularly vulnerable users – receive good outcomes. Needless to say, some improvement required.

Ofcom UK Shut Enforcement Programme for Checking 999 Calling Access

10th Jun, 2026 (0 Comments)

The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has closed the own-initiative compliance programme that it opened in October 2025 (here) for assessing whether regulated UK phone providers were meeting their obligations concerning the need to ensure access to emergency calls (e.g. 999 and 112). The good news is they found no major issues, but they have still proposed a few changes.

Ofcom Study Finds Mobile Networks on UK Trains Offer Poor Quality UPDATE

3rd Jun, 2026 (10 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today published a new study that measured mobile (4G / 5G) network performance across 24 segments of key railway lines covering England, Scotland and Wales. The results found that performance was poor on between 58% and 83% of tests carried out on trains, depending on mobile operator.

Government Unveil Plan to Protect UK Subsea Internet Cables from Sabotage

29th May, 2026 (10 Comments)

The UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT / DCMS) has today proposed “tougher fines and prison sentences” for those who damage subsea infrastructure essential for UK broadband access and trade, with consultation planned to take place later this year.

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CityFibre Reduce UK Project Gigabit Broadband Rollout Due to Expanded Commercial Cover

26th May, 2026 (27 Comments)

One of the country’s largest alternative networks, CityFibre, has announced that they’ve reached an agreement with the Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency to “re-scope” the contracts they hold under the Project Gigabit broadband roll-out programme due to the “accelerated rollout of commercially funded full fibre” across their contracted areas.