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Latest Key Developments

Virgin Media O2 Linked Nexfibre Acquire UK FTTP AltNet Upp UPDATE

6th Sep, 2023 (53 Comments)

Network builder nexfibre, which is working in partnership with broadband ISP Virgin Media (VMO2) – at wholesale – to roll-out a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across up to 5-7 million extra UK premises, has today announced the acquisition of full fibre operator Upp in the East of England.

Openreach Stops Selling New UK Analogue Copper Phone Lines

5th Sep, 2023 (58 Comments)

Openreach (BT) has this morning confirmed that they’ve formally introduced their long-planned UK wide “stop sell” on sales of new Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) and related broadband ISP products, which is part of their aim to completely withdraw the old copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) by December 2025.

BDUK Prep New Option for UK Rural Gigabit Broadband Builds

21st Aug, 2023 (26 Comments)

Multiple industry sources have informed us that the Government’s Building Digital UK agency is fielding interest in a new funding option for rural-focused procurements under their £5bn Project Gigabit programme, which appears set to target smaller community style builds of around 200-500 properties.

FibreSpeed Network in North Wales Plans for Post 2025 Future

20th Aug, 2023 (12 Comments)

The 411km long FibreSpeed network, which is owned by the Welsh Government – albeit now operating as an independent business – and reflects a high-capacity fibre optic communications and broadband network that spans across North Wales, has launched a new Prior Information Notice (PIN) to help plan its future beyond 2025.

One Month Until Openreach Stop Selling New UK Analogue Phone Lines

9th Aug, 2023 (60 Comments)

Openreach’s (BT) long road toward completely switching off their old copper-based Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in December 2025 is set to hit a major milestone on 5th September 2023, when it places a UK wide “stop sell” on sales of new Wholesale Line Rental (WLR) and related broadband ISP products.

Gov Commits £40m to Trial New UK 5G and Wireless Broadband Tech

3rd Aug, 2023 (6 Comments)

The UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has opened a new £40 million fund to help local and regional authorities to test and adopt 5G and other advanced wireless network technologies, which could be used to “pioneer digital connectivity for residents and business“.

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£160m Gov Fund May Fuel Future UK 5G and Broadband Satellites

1st Aug, 2023 (2 Comments)

The UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the UK Space Agency (UKSA) have today revealed that they’re “exploring” a new plan, which could open a £160 million fund to help develop and build the next generation of LEO satellite based broadband and 5G mobile communications.

BT Group Name Allison Kirkby to Replace Philip Jansen as UK CEO

31st Jul, 2023 (13 Comments)

Broadband, phone and mobile giant BT Group (inc. Openreach, Plusnet and EE) has this morning announced that it has chosen Allison Kirkby, the current President & CEO of telecommunications multinational operator Telia Company in Sweden since early 2020, to replace Philip Jansen in the role of CEO.

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BDUK Start Procurement on Cross Regional UK Gigabit Broadband Rollout

31st Jul, 2023 (8 Comments)

The Government’s Building Digital UK agency has started the procurement phase for the award of their first major Cross-Regional Supplier Framework (Type C) contract under the £5bn rural Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme, which could see a single network operator being picked to help cover some of the most challenging areas.

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BDUK Change CEO as Gigabit Broadband Project Struggles with Slow Progress UPDATE2

30th Jul, 2023 (15 Comments)

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency has reportedly changed its current CEO, Paul Norris, and appointed the man who oversaw the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Dean Creamer, to take on the role after concerns were allegedly raised over “slow” progress in their £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout.

Ofcom Move to Protect UK People from Mobile Roaming Bill Shocks

20th Jul, 2023 (13 Comments)

Ofcom has today proposed new rules to force mobile network operators, such as Three UK, Vodafone, EE and O2 (inc. MVNO operators), to protect consumers who travel abroad from mobile BILL SHOCKS on data (broadband), call and text charges by introducing new roaming alert protections for consumers and small businesses.

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Ofcom UK to Publish Take-up of Social Tariffs by Provider

13th Jul, 2023 (9 Comments)

Ofcom has published an update on its action plan to support broadband and mobile customers during the cost-of-living crisis, which once again calls on UK ISPs to take “immediate action” to boost the take-up of cheaper social tariffs (available to those on state benefits) and promises to publish take-up data for each provider.

BT Group Confirm UK CEO Philip Jansen to Exit Within 12 Months

10th Jul, 2023 (30 Comments)

Broadband and phone giant BT Group (inc. Openreach, Plusnet and EE) has this morning announced that the operator’s current CEO, Philip Jansen, is to leave the business “at an appropriate moment over the next 12 months“. Since taking on the role in February 2019, the operator’s share price has fallen from around 230p to 122p.

Summer 2023 BDUK Update on UK Project Gigabit Broadband Build

3rd Jul, 2023 (18 Comments)

The Building Digital UK agency has published their latest quarterly update (June 2023) on the Government’s £5bn rural Project Gigabit broadband rollout progress, which has so far awarded rollout contracts worth a total of £589m (state aid) to help extend coverage to an extra 378,450 of the hardest to reach premises.

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CityFibre Win Three Major UK Project Gigabit Broadband Rollout Contracts

1st Jul, 2023 (48 Comments)

The UK Government’s £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme has announced that CityFibre have secured three major build contracts for Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in England. The combined award is worth £488m (£318m state aid and £170m private) and will see the operator extend 10Gbps capable FTTP to 218,000 premises (500k inc. commercial build).

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New UK Ad Rules to Tackle Mid-Contract Broadband Price Hikes UPDATE2

15th Jun, 2023 (22 Comments)

The UK Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP and BCAP) – sister bodies to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) – have today set out new guidance for how broadband ISPs and mobile operators should communicate mid-contract prices hikes to consumers, which will make such policies clearer and more transparent.

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Vodafone and Three UK Sign Agreement for Mobile Mega Merger

14th Jun, 2023 (73 Comments)

Mobile network operators Vodafone and Three UK (CK Hutchison) have today confirmed that they’ve reached a formal merger agreement, which is said to be worth an estimated £15bn and will see the former party owning a 51% slice of the business (CKH will hold 49%). But they’ll still have to satisfy the regulators, and that may require concessions.