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Latest Key Developments

Mobile Giant Vodafone Confirms Merger Talks with Three UK

3rd Oct, 2022 (70 Comments)

After months of speculation, mobile network operator Vodafone UK has today confirmed that they are officially in “discussions” with Three UK’s parent (CK Hutchison Holdings) about the possibility of a merger. Such a deal would give the combined business the “necessary scale” to boost their 5G rollout and “expand” rural broadband connectivity.

Ofcom Asks Broadband ISPs to Halt Price Hikes and Offer Social Tariffs

29th Sep, 2022 (21 Comments)

Ofcom has revealed that 29% of UK households (8 million) – double last year’s 15% – are still having problems paying their phone, broadband and TV bills. In response, they’ve called on major ISPs to reconsider annual price hikes and ordered TalkTalk, Shell Energy, EE, Plusnet and Vodafone to introduce “social tariffs as soon as possible“.

GoFibre Win Project Gigabit Broadband Rollout Contract for Teesdale

29th Sep, 2022 (3 Comments)

The second Local Supplier contract under the UK Government’s new £5bn Project Gigabit broadband scheme – worth £6.6m – has today been awarded to rural ISP GoFibre (BorderLink), which will upgrade broadband for more than 4,000 hard-to-reach Teesdale premises in Northern England.

Growth Plan Hints at Planning Changes to Boost Gigabit Broadband

23rd Sep, 2022 (13 Comments)

The UK Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, has today published a new Growth Plan 2022, which proposes to “liberate the private sector” by encouraging investment (i.e. removing barriers to the flow of private capital) and boosting infrastructure by “liberalising the planning system and streamlining consultation and approval requirements“.

Gov Finalise Rules Mandating Gigabit Broadband for New Build Homes

23rd Sep, 2022 (8 Comments)

The UK Government has issued their response to last year’s technical consultation on changes to the existing ‘Building Regulations 2010‘, which sets out their final position on the legal framework for making it mandatory for property developers to ensure that new build homes are constructed with support for faster broadband.

BT Faces Major 4 Day UK Strike and 999 Call Handlers Join Them UPDATE

22nd Sep, 2022 (44 Comments)

The Communications Workers Union has just upped the ante in its pay dispute with broadband and telecoms giant BT (including Openreach) by announcing a third round of national strikes, which have been staggered to hit the operator over four days. But worryingly, the next strike will include hundreds of 999 emergency call handlers.

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Ofcom UK Confirm Small Bundles Tweak to Broadband Speed Code

21st Sep, 2022 (11 Comments)

Ofcom has confirmed that they will update their 2019 voluntary Code of Practice for Broadband ISP Speeds, which among other things will extend the current “Right to Exit” (i.e. when an ISP fails to correct a speed problem) so that it applies to more aspects of a service bundle. The changes will go live on 21st December 2022.

Adverts Watchdog Tackles UK Mid-Contract Telecoms Price Hikes

8th Sep, 2022 (8 Comments)

The Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP and BCAP) – sister body to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) – has launched a consultation on new guidance that would require information about mid-contract prices hikes to be more prominently stated in ads by broadband ISPs and mobile operators to “avoid misleading consumers“.

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Prime Minister Liz Truss Commits to “Faster” UK Broadband Build

7th Sep, 2022 (23 Comments)

The new UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, yesterday entered 10 Downing Street – after replacing Boris Johnson in the post – by acknowledging that “we need to build roads, homes and broadband faster” than they have been doing so far. But it remains to be seen whether that statement is more than just a sound bite.

Encrypted Computer Data by 123rf ID104712693

New UK Telecoms and Internet Security Code to Go Live in October

30th Aug, 2022 (2 Comments)

The UK Government has announced that network providers (e.g. broadband ISPs and mobile operators) will become subject to new regulations – under the Telecommunications (Security) Act – from 1st Oct 2022, which aside from restricting the use of Huawei, will also impose changes to make networks safer from cyberattack.

Gov Issue Summer 2022 Update on UK Project Gigabit Broadband Rollout

30th Aug, 2022 (5 Comments)

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) programme has today published the latest quarterly Summer 2022 update for their £5bn Project Gigabit broadband rollout scheme, which reveals that they’ve launched new procurements in Hampshire and Shropshire, but are struggling in Staffordshire and Hertfordshire.

Broadband ISPs and Ofcom UK Respond to Winter Blackout Fears

30th Aug, 2022 (23 Comments)

The news media has recently been full of scare stories that warn of electricity “blackouts” and “energy rationing“, which they claim could potentially last for several days during the depths of winter. But if the worst were to occur, then how would broadband ISPs and mobile operators’ cope. We investigate.

Scotland Unveil £36m Extension of R100 Fibre Broadband Rollout

19th Aug, 2022 (19 Comments)

The Scottish Government has unveiled an extension of their existing £600m Reaching 100% (R100) contract with BT (Openreach), which will see a further £36m being invested to cover an additional 2,637 rural properties with a gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband ISP network. But completion is now 2028!

Housing Search and UK Broadband Under Magnifying Glass

The Plan to Add Broadband and Mobile Cover to UK Property Listings

18th Aug, 2022 (15 Comments)

The National Trading Standards – Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT), which works to protect consumers by enforcing existing legislation, is reportedly considering updating the material information rules for property listings to require that agents include data on broadband ISP and mobile coverage.

Gov Make it Easier to Verify Eligibility for Cheap Broadband Social Tariffs

15th Aug, 2022 (12 Comments)

The UK Government has moved to encourage wider adoption of cheaper broadband “Social Tariffs” – usually only available to those taking certain state benefits – by launching a new system that makes it easier for Internet Service Providers (ISP) to confirm the eligibility of their customers for such plans.

MPs Back Bill Designed to Tackle Controversial UK Telecoms Poles

9th Aug, 2022 (56 Comments)

A small group of MPs have given their backing to a new Private Members Bill (PMB), which would make it mandatory for UK operators building full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP networks to initiate a local consultation when deploying new telecommunications infrastructure in residential areas (e.g. telecoms poles).

10 Recommendations to Help Improve Broadband in Wales

1st Aug, 2022 (6 Comments)

The Welsh Parliament‘s Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (CCEIC) has today publish a new report into the state of broadband internet access across Wales, which makes 10 recommendations for how the UK and Welsh Government’s could improve connectivity and fill the remaining gaps.