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Latest Key Developments

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New Rules for Utility Firms to Benefit UK FTTP Broadband Rollout

13th May, 2022 (1 Comment)

The Government has announced changes that are designed to improve the quality of street works, not least through more inspections, better quality resurfacing and tougher fines for poor quality road works and leaving behind potholes. But the new rules also include changes to help support the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband.

Ofcom UK Propose Small Improvements to Broadband Speed Code

11th May, 2022 (14 Comments)

Ofcom has proposed to tweak their 2019 voluntary Code of Practice for Broadband ISP Speeds, which will extend the current ‘Right to Exit‘ (i.e. when an ISP fails to correct a problem with broadband speeds) to the latest definition of service bundles. It will also require FTTP and cable ISPs to provide details on observed line speeds.

Three UK Confirms Plan to Switch-Off 3G Mobile Service by 2024

11th May, 2022 (40 Comments)

Mobile operator Three UK has today become the latest provider – after Vodafone and EE – to announce that it aims to completely switch off their legacy 3G (mobile broadband) network by the end of 2024. The move will free up resources to allow Three to focus on improving the 4G experience and rolling out 5G to more parts of the UK.

ISP Sky Broadband and NOW Launch Cheaper UK Social Tariff

12th Apr, 2022 (12 Comments)

Good news. UK ISP Sky Broadband and sibling NOW Broadband have today become the latest internet providers to launch a cheaper “social tariff” for home broadband and phone connectivity, which is being offered to consumers who are claiming Universal Credit or Pension Credit.

327,174 Premises in Wales Need Help to Get Gigabit Broadband

9th Apr, 2022 (14 Comments)

The Building Digital UK team has published a new Public Review (PR) consultation for Wales, which reveals that some 327,174 premises might need state aid help under the Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme in order to access 1Gbps speeds (rising to 984,806 if including ‘Under Review‘ premises).

Trial Runs UK Fibre Broadband Cable via Yorkshire Water Mains

6th Apr, 2022 (13 Comments)

The UK Government has today announced the start of their new “Fibre in Water” trial, which will test the deployment of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband cables through 17km of live drinking water mains between Barnsley and Penistone (Yorkshire). In theory, this could help to cut the cost of rural broadband delivery and reduce leaks.

Five More Broadband ISPs Sign Scotland’s Full Fibre Charter

4th Apr, 2022 (1 Comment)

The Scottish Government (SG) has announced that five more broadband network providers have committed to supporting Scotland’s Full Fibre Charter, including Borderlink, Cloudnet, Hyperoptic, Lothian Broadband and Virgin Media (VMO2). The charter consists of a series of pledges to help extend full fibre coverage.

ISP BT Pause UK Digital Voice Rollout After Consumer Complaints

29th Mar, 2022 (64 Comments)

Broadband ISP BT has paused the national UK rollout of their new Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) style Digital Voice product after complaints due to recent service outages. The service is designed to replace their old analogue phone service and is typically offered alongside broadband packages.

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Gov Commits Gigabit Broadband for All England Schools by 2025

23rd Mar, 2022 (17 Comments)

The Government’s Education Secretary, Nadhim Zahawi MP, has today made a new commitment for “every school across the country” to be able to access “high speed internet” by 2025, which is said to complement the wider £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout programme. Funding will also be provided for related WiFi upgrades.

Internet Censorship Beckons as UK Online Safety Bill Hits Parliament

16th Mar, 2022 (29 Comments)

The UK Government’s controversial Online Safety Bill, which will task Ofcom with clamping down on “harmful” online content (hate speech, bullying, terrorism, conspiracy theories etc.) by threatening such providers with web-blocks, fines and possibly even jail – if they don’t enforce the rules, has today been introduced to parliament.

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Wales to Close Top Up Scheme for Gigabit Broadband Vouchers

16th Mar, 2022 (3 Comments)

The Welsh Government (WG) has confirmed that its top-up funding for the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), which offers grants to help rural homes install gigabit-capable internet connections, will end on 31st March 2022 because “budget pressures” mean they can no longer afford to continue to “underwrite the UK Government“.

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Ofcom UK Sets Out Approach to LEO Broadband Satellites

15th Mar, 2022 (2 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today published their proposals for a new ‘Space Spectrum Strategy’, which among other things sets out their approach to supporting the growth of satellite broadband services, such as via the new mega constellations of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) platforms from SpaceX (Starlink) and OneWeb.

Mystery ISP Becomes First to Adopt Number Porting Flexibility

12th Mar, 2022 (7 Comments)

The Office of the Telecoms Adjudicator recently revealed that a “major” UK ISP had become the first to adopt the new ‘Right to Port‘ requirement for fixed line phones, which introduces some useful extra flexibility for phone users who want to switch (port) their number between operators. But none of the big players will confirm it.

Ofcom UK Tweak Geographic Phone Numbering and Local Dialling

11th Mar, 2022 (20 Comments)

Ofcom has today set out their final changes to the rules that govern the use of phone numbers in the UK, which has opted to retain the existing rules on geographic numbering and remove the obligation on telecoms providers and broadband ISPs to provide local dialling to customers.

New Rules and Taller Masts to Boost 5G Mobile in Rural England

7th Mar, 2022 (17 Comments)

The Government has today confirmed their intention to introduce a series of changes to Permitted Development (PD) rights for mobile infrastructure, which aims to help extend 5G and 4G (mobile broadband) coverage in rural areas of England via key changes (e.g. allowing taller masts of up to 30 metres).

Internet and UK Telecoms Security Picture

Gov Consults on New UK Telecoms and Internet Security Code UPDATE

1st Mar, 2022 (2 Comments)

The UK Government has today begun to consult on draft regulations for their new Telecommunications (Security) Act which, aside from banning Huawei inside 5G mobile networks (and restricting their involvement with FTTP broadband), will also impose a cacophony of tedious new security rules on telecoms operators.

Ofcom Crackdown on Number Spoofing to Tackle UK SPAM Calls

23rd Feb, 2022 (11 Comments)

Last year the national telecoms regulator, Ofcom, estimated that 44.6 million UK people may have received scam calls and text messages during just the three months of summer (here), with 2% of recipients being duped by them. In response, the regulator has today proposed changes to tackle the use of fake phone numbers.