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Latest Key Developments

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New UK Broadband ISP Switching System to be Delayed AGAIN

13th Dec, 2023 (21 Comments)

The industry-led One Touch Switching Company (TOTSCo), which is responsible for implementing Ofcom’s already heavily delayed One Touch Switch (OTS) system for broadband ISPs and consumers who want to change provider, has today warned that their revised plan to introduce it from 14th March 2024 is “no longer achievable“.

New Ofcom UK Rules to STOP Misleading Use of “Fibre” Broadband UPDATE

13th Dec, 2023 (57 Comments)

The UK telecoms, media and internet content regulator, Ofcom, has today introduced new guidelines that will effectively only allow broadband ISPs to use terms like “fibre” and “full-fibre” on their websites, and in contracts, if their network brings fibre optic cables all the way to your home (i.e. FTTP / FTTH).

Ofcom UK BAN Some Mid-Contract Broadband and Mobile Price Hikes UPDATE6

12th Dec, 2023 (45 Comments)

The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, has today published the outcome of their review into whether mid-contract price hikes that are linked to inflation give mobile and broadband ISP customers enough certainty and clarity about what they can expect to pay. Suffice to say, they’re effectively banning the practice.

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Ofcom Consult on UK Telecoms Resilience and Battery Backup for Mobile Masts

8th Dec, 2023 (23 Comments)

Ofcom has today proposed to update their resilience guidance to provide greater clarity on how UK broadband ISPs, mobile operators and other digital network companies can “reduce the risk of network outages“. Separately, they’re also seeking feedback on the issue of inadequate power backup at mobile network sites.

Mobile Operators Sued for £3bn Due to UK Airtime Plan Overcharging

8th Dec, 2023 (13 Comments)

Mobile network operators including EE (BT), Vodafone, Three UK and O2 (VMO2) are facing a class action claim worth “at least” £3.285bn from consumer rights champion Justin Gutmann and the law firm Charles Lyndon, which accuses them of historically overcharging for mobile handsets beyond the end of their contractual term.

Broadband ISP Virgin Media O2 Promote Social Tariff to All UK Users

7th Dec, 2023 (13 Comments)

In somewhat of an industry first, Virgin Media (VMO2) has today announced that they’re launching a new awareness campaign for their cheaper broadband social tariffs, which will see the ISP contacting every one of their 5 million UK customers to make them aware of the option and offer to support those struggling with bills. O2 also plan a mobile social tariff.

2023 Openreach Female Engineer on FTTP Pole

Openreach List 142 New UK Locations for FTTP Broadband Build

7th Dec, 2023 (88 Comments)

Network access provider Openreach (BT) has today revealed the next batch of 142 new locations to benefit from their ongoing deployment of a new multi-Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network, which has just officially reached the half-way point by covering over 12.5 million UK premises.

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Gigabit Broadband Coverage Reaches 80 Percent of UK Homes

6th Dec, 2023 (18 Comments)

The latest independent data has revealed that a shade over 80% of “homes” across the United Kingdom can now access a gigabit-capable broadband ISP connection (1000Mbps+), which is up from just over 72% at the end of last year. The figure drops to 60% when only looking at Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology (up from 45%).

Capabilities of IMT-2030 for 6G Wireless and Mobile by ITU Dec 2023

ITU Sets Framework for Future 6G Mobile Broadband Standard

2nd Dec, 2023 (14 Comments)

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has today published the first framework for the future 6G mobile (mobile broadband) and wireless networking technology (IMT-2030), which will support the development of related standards and radio interface technologies. The framework also reveals more about its potential capabilities.

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Ofcom UK Tackle Consumer Harm Caused by Cash for Calls Schemes

1st Dec, 2023 (4 Comments)

The UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has today launched a new consultation that looks set to tackle the risk of consumer harm from so-called “cash for calls” schemes. This will work by making clear that revenue sharing on certain phone number ranges (e.g. 084 and 087) will not be permitted.

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Ofcom Begins Review of UK Telecoms Complaints Handlers

29th Nov, 2023 (13 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today began a review to examine whether the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) providers, which are third-party ombudsman schemes that help consumers to resolve complaints with their phone providers, broadband ISPs and mobile operators, is working effectively.

Gigabit Broadband Contracts Awarded for Oxfordshire and Staffordshire UK UPDATE

25th Nov, 2023 (10 Comments)

The UK Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme has today announced two new contracts, which sees ISP Gigaclear awarded £26.5m to cover around 10,000 rural premises in North and South Oxfordshire. At the same time, Connect Fibre has scooped a £16.5m deal to cover 6,000 premises in North East Staffordshire.

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2023 Autumn Statement Boosts UK Full Fibre and 5G Builds – Full Expensing

22nd Nov, 2023 (12 Comments)

The Chancellor of the UK government, Jeremy Hunt, has today given his 2023 Autumn Statement, which among other things has announced that the new “Full Expensing” policy will be made permanent. The change will help some full fibre broadband and mobile operators to bring down the cost of their network roll-outs. Planning tweaks are also coming.

Ofcom UK Detail 5G Mobile Auction Plan for 26GHz and 40GHz

8th Nov, 2023 (9 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today set out the design of their planned auction for a large chunk of millimetre wave (mmW) radio spectrum frequency across the 26GHz and 40GHz bands, which is to be used by mobile network operators to deliver even faster 5G (mobile broadband) services – mostly across urban areas.

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Virgin Media O2 Linked Nexfibre Publish UK Full Fibre Rollout Plan

7th Nov, 2023 (40 Comments)

Network operator nexfibre, which holds a wholesale partnership with Virgin Media (VMO2) to deploy a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network across up to 7 million UK premises, has today published its first “nationwide rollout plan” for 2024 – listing the first large batch of planned locations.

Openreach Prep Alternative UK Analogue Style Phone Product

6th Nov, 2023 (44 Comments)

Openreach is developing an additional phone line product, which does NOT require a broadband connection to function and will be targetted at vulnerable and edge use cases (inc. CNI) users with old analogue phone lines (PSTN) who would otherwise “face challenges” in migrating to an All-IP (Internet Protocol) based solution by 2025.

Ofcom Finalises Softer UK Rules to Protect the Open Internet UPDATE

26th Oct, 2023 (19 Comments)

Ofcom has finalised their move to soften the Net Neutrality rules, which were originally established to prevent unfair blocking or slowing of access to legal websites and internet services by broadband ISPs and mobile operators. Providers will now gain more flexibility to create “premium” packages (e.g. better latency) and “specialised services“.