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Latest Key Developments

ISP TalkTalk Trial UK FTTP Ultrafast Broadband via Openreach

10th December, 2019 (30 Comments)

Last month UK ISP TalkTalk promised that they would launch a new range of ultrafast broadband packages “before the end of the calendar year“, which for the first time would be based off Openreach’s (BT) new gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network. The first customer trials are now quietly going live.

Wales Considers Spending More on Mobile than Fixed Broadband

27th November, 2019 (9 Comments)

The National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICW) has issued a call for evidence on its priorities for 2020 as it develops a future infrastructure plan for Wales, which among other things includes a proposal to spend a “greater proportion of public funds” on mobile (4G / 5G) rather than to fixed broadband ISP networks.

Ofcom and Openreach Trial Cheaper UK FTTC Broadband Upgrades UPDATE

25th November, 2019 (14 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has begun a consultation on the proposed introduction of a new “bulk upgrade process,” which requires an exclusion in Openreach’s (BT) quality of service regulation but would make it more efficient for them to upgrade slower lines to FTTC (VDSL2) based broadband ISP connections.

BT to Scoop LOT 1 of Scotland’s R100 Superfast Broadband Rollout

21st November, 2019 (20 Comments)

The Scottish Government has awarded BT (Openreach) the final LOT 1 contract – as preferred bidder – to deliver their new £600m R100 (Reaching 100%) project, which originally (here) aspired to make “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) ISP networks available to “every single premises in Scotland” by the end of 2021.

Labour Party Pledge £20bn to Deploy FREE Full Fibre for All UK UPDATE3

15th November, 2019 (112 Comments)

The UK Labour Party has set out their broadband pledge for the General Election on 12th December 2019, which includes a commitment to invest £20.3bn into rolling out “full fibre” (FTTP) by 2030, nationalising Openreach (BT) into public ownership and if that wasn’t quite radical enough then access to this will be.. FREE.

Welsh Government Quietly Unveil £10m Rural Broadband Fund

13th November, 2019 (3 Comments)

The Welsh Government (WG) yesterday announced – during a debate on Digital Connectivity – a new £10 million fund that will be targeted to help bring “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) ISP networks to poorly served communities in the mostly rural final 5% of Wales.

ISP Vodafone UK Extends FTTP Broadband with Openreach Deal

11th November, 2019 (13 Comments)

Mobile operator and ISP Vodafone UK has today moved to mix the on-going rollout of their new 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based “Gigafast Broadband” network with Cityfibre by striking a new commercial deal with Openreach (BT), which gives them access to the latter’s “full fibre” network too.

Virgin Media UK Says Goodbye to BT, Signs Vodafone for Mobile UPDATE

6th November, 2019 (44 Comments)

Cable TV and broadband ISP Virgin Media UK (Liberty Global) has today made the surprise announcement that their long-running Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement with BT (EE) will be coming to an end. Instead they’ve signed a new 5-year partnership deal for Virgin Mobile with rival operator Vodafone.

Ofcom Consult on Funding for the 10Mbps UK Broadband USO

5th November, 2019 (10 Comments)

Ofcom has today opened a new consultation on the funding (compensation) arrangements for BT and KCOM’s forthcoming Universal Service Obligation (USO), which is due to begin on the 20th March 2020 and aims to ensure that everybody can request a minimum broadband speed of “at least” 10Mbps (1Mbps upload).

Ofcom’s New 5G Mobile Auction Plan for 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz

28th October, 2019 (5 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today confirmed that they will proceed to auction of the 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz radio spectrum bands in spring 2020 to boost new 5G networks to potentially Gigabit-capable (1000Mbps+) mobile broadband speeds. But in light of last week’s Shared Rural Network deal (here), the coverage obligation is gone.

Government in £1bn Deal for 95% Geographic UK 4G Mobile by 2025

25th October, 2019 (11 Comments)

The Government has today announced a new £1bn deal with Three UK, Vodafone, O2 and EE (BT) to establish a new Shared Rural Network (SRN), which will see the mobile operators working cooperatively together in order to extend the geographic coverage of 4G (mobile broadband) services to 95% of the UK by 2025.

O2 UK’s Unlimited 5G Mobile Network Goes Live At No Extra Cost

17th October, 2019 (2 Comments)

O2 (Telefonica) has today become the last of the four primary UK operators to switch-on a commercial ultrafast 5G based mobile broadband network, which is initially live across several key hubs in busy areas of Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough and Leeds. Plus it comes at no extra cost on “Custom Plans.”

ISP UK Internet Porn Ban Stalled and Shifted to Online Harms Bill

16th October, 2019 (6 Comments)

Confusion reigns today after the Government confirmed that its controversial new internet Age Verification (AV) system, which was due to be implemented by commercial websites and “apps” that contain pornographic content (broadband ISPs would be forced to block sites that fail to comply), “will not be commencing.” But there’s a catch.

2019 Queen’s Speech Sets Out UK Gigabit Broadband Plans UPDATE

14th October, 2019 (12 Comments)

The Queen has today carried out the annual State Opening of Parliament, which as per usual included a list of policy plans that the Government intends to put forward over the coming years. As expected this included some planned legislation for broadband and internet safety related matters.

Scotland Pick BT for Part of £600m Superfast Broadband Rollout

10th October, 2019 (16 Comments)

The Scottish Government today announced that BT is their ONLY bidder for two of the three areas under the new £600m R100 (Reaching 100%) project, which originally (here) aspired to make “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) ISP networks available to “every single premise in Scotland” by the end of 2021 (March 2022 financial).

New UK Rules to Spread Gigabit Broadband into Big Buildings

10th October, 2019 (17 Comments)

The UK Government has today proposed a solution as part of the outcome from their recent consultation, which sought a new way of making it easier for “gigabit-capable” broadband ISPs and mobile network operators to access buildings – usually big apartment blocks (Multi-Dwelling Units) – where “rogue landlords” fail to respond.

Vodafone UK Share Unused 4G Spectrum for Rural Broadband

2nd October, 2019 (13 Comments)

Mobile network operator Vodafone UK has, in somewhat of an “industry first,” agreed to help extend Mobile Broadband coverage by sharing some of its “unused” 4G radio spectrum with StrattoOpencell (part of the Digital Colony UK Infrastructure Platform) in order to offer high-speed data in “remote areas without fibre connectivity.”