Home » UK ISP News Archive » Key Developments (722 Posts)

Latest Key Developments

Gov Campaign to Raise Awareness of UK Social Broadband Tariffs

29th Nov, 2022 (9 Comments)

After meeting with ISPs, the Government has today launched a UK-wide public awareness campaign as part of its Help for Households programme, which aims to help people through the cost-of-living crisis and will also work to improve the uptake of cheaper social tariffs from broadband and mobile providers (available to those on benefits).

Softened Online UK Internet Censorship Bill Returns to Parliament

28th Nov, 2022 (18 Comments)

The UK Government has confirmed the mess of confusing legislation that is the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which attempts to clampdown on “harmful” internet content (i.e. via fines, website blocks by broadband ISPs and other sanctions), will return to Parliament “next week” (5th Dec) with some key changes.

British sterling one pound coin currency

Consumer Pricing Bill Might Ban Discounts for New UK Broadband Customers

25th Nov, 2022 (46 Comments)

The Consumer Pricing Bill (CPB), which seeks to “prohibit the practice of offering preferential pricing to new customers compared to existing customers“, will today get its second reading in the House of Commons. The Private Members Bill (PMB) could, if passed, effectively prevent first term discounts on broadband ISP and mobile packages.

Red Road Closed road sign in a UK city street. 123rf

New Rules to Aid UK Full Fibre Builds and Network Security Become Law UPDATE

25th Nov, 2022 (2 Comments)

The UK Government’s new Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Bill (PSTI) is finally set to become law after passing through both houses of parliament this week. The new law will, among other things, make it easier for full fibre broadband and mobile operators to upgrade, share and deploy new infrastructure.

Telecoms Providers Join UK Landowners in Connectivity Alliance

23rd Nov, 2022 (1 Comment)

A new National Connectivity Alliance (the NCA) has been launch today, which for the first time brings together UK telecommunications providers (mobile and broadband), infrastructure providers, landowners and their professional advisers. The goal is to collaborate on areas of mutual interest and that may boost the rollout of new networks.

Parliament UK Building at Dusk in London 2021

UK Chancellor Protects Gigabit Broadband and Mobile Funding UPDATE

17th Nov, 2022 (8 Comments)

The UK Government’s latest Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has today used his Autumn Statement 2022 to, among other things, allay fears that he might cut funding for major national gigabit broadband and mobile infrastructure projects by committing to ensure that such projects remain “funded as promised“.

Ofcom Tells UK Phone Providers to Identify and Block Spoofed Calls

15th Nov, 2022 (13 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today introduced new rules that will require phone providers to crackdown on “fake phone numbers” by identifying and blocking “spoofed calls“, where feasible. The move aims to tackle a problem that, during the summer, resulted in 40.8 million people being targeted by suspicious calls and texts.

Ofcom-UK-Satellite-Broadband-Illustration

Ofcom UK Gives Capacity Boost to Satellite Broadband Services

10th Nov, 2022 (0 Comments)

Ofcom has today published a refreshed strategy for managing radio spectrum used by the space sector, which among other things will make more spectrum frequency in the 14.25 – 14.5GHz “Ku band” available to satellite broadband operators (capacity boost) and approve new earth stations for use by Starlink and Telesat.

Openreach Launch Pilot of 1.2Gbps and 1.8Gbps FTTP Broadband Tiers

1st Nov, 2022 (96 Comments)

Openreach has today officially announced the launch of their new pilot for UK broadband ISPs, which will test faster download speeds of 1.2Gbps and 1.8Gbps on their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) lines. The service will also be accompanied by two new optical modems (ONT) from Nokia G-010G-T and ADTRAN SDX 611Q.

Ofcom Wants to be Notified of More UK Network and Internet Disruption

1st Nov, 2022 (1 Comment)

Ofcom has proposed to update their existing Network and Information Systems (NIS) guidance in order to require that UK Operators of Essential Services (OES), such as top-level domain name registries, DNS (domain name systems) providers and IXP (internet exchange) operators, inform them of less severe outages.

Bill Proposed to Improve UK Consumer Telephone Service Standards

27th Oct, 2022 (21 Comments)

The Conservative MP, Robert Halfon, has proposed a new Private Members Bill that seeks to clampdown on utility providers (broadband ISPs, energy etc.) and “certain other services” that run telephone support lines, specifically those that make it difficult or force you to wait for ages before being able to speak with a human.

Net Neutrality – Ofcom UK Softens Open Internet Safeguards UPDATE2

21st Oct, 2022 (7 Comments)

Ofcom has today published new proposals to soften some of the UK’s existing Net Neutrality protection rules, which were established some years ago to ensure no serious blocking or slowing of access to legal websites or other internet services by broadband ISPs and mobile network operators. But there are some positive statements too.

Gov Hands Huawei Legal Notices to UK Mobile and Broadband ISPs

13th Oct, 2022 (15 Comments)

The Government has today placed their previous decision to BAN Huawei’s equipment from ultrafast 5G mobile networks (including restrictions on its use in full fibre broadband infrastructure) on more of a legal footing, which it has done by issuing legal notices to 35 telecoms network operators.

Labour Party Promises Mandatory Social Broadband ISP Tariffs

13th Oct, 2022 (40 Comments)

The UK Labour Party has proposed a new policy that would, if they won the next election, see them introduce a mandatory “industry-wide” social tariff for cheaper broadband (available to those on benefits). On top of that, they would also stop mid-contract price hikes by ISPs and reduce early termination charges for contract leavers.

Government Set to Raise Value of UK Gigabit Broadband Vouchers

10th Oct, 2022 (8 Comments)

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) team has informed ISPs of several forthcoming changes to their Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS), which helps those in rural areas to get a gigabit-capable internet connection installed. The big news is that the maximum voucher values are to be increased.

Ofcom Autumn 2022 Study – UK Gigabit Broadband Hits 68% Cover

7th Oct, 2022 (14 Comments)

Ofcom’s autumn 2022 report into fixed broadband and mobile coverage has found that “full fibre” (FTTP) now reaches 37% of the UK, while 20.2 million homes (68%) are within reach of a gigabit-capable network and 48-64% of premises can now get outdoor 5G coverage by at least one operator.

Project-Gigabit-UK-Gov-Investment-Scheme-2025

BDUK’s New Batch of Gigabit Broadband Coverage Reviews Adds Urban Regions

5th Oct, 2022 (11 Comments)

The Government’s (DCMS) Building Digital UK team has published a new batch of Public Reviews (PR) for their £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout, which covers a total of nine contractable regions in England, such as Dorset, Greater London, Merseyside and Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and more.