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Latest Key Developments

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.

Virgin Media O2 Parents Form Joint Venture to Build New UK Fibre Network

29th Jul, 2022 (32 Comments)

The parents of Virgin Media (Liberty Global) and O2 (Telefonica), supported by InfraVia Capital Partners, have today announced the creation of a new Joint Venture (JV) to build an XGS-PON based and wholesale focused Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network that will cover “up to” 7 million additional UK homes.

Global Shortage of Fibre Optic Cables Hits UK Broadband Firms UPDATE

28th Jul, 2022 (14 Comments)

Network builders and broadband ISPs in the UK have confirmed that they’re also being affected by a shortage in optical fibre cables, which has caused significant delays to lead times on deliveries and pushed up prices of such cables by as much as 70% since March 2021. But contrary to some reports, the cable cost is not the main issue.

CityFibre Upgrade UK Network to 10Gbps Full Fibre Broadband UPDATE

25th Jul, 2022 (30 Comments)

Network builder CityFibre has today announced that they will begin upgrading their national UK GPON based full fibre broadband ISP network to harness XGS-PON technology from April 2023, which will enable them to offer symmetrical download and upload speeds of up to 10Gbps – Gigabits per second (9.953Gbps to be exact).

Welsh Government and Openreach Extend FTTP Broadband Rollout

20th Jul, 2022 (6 Comments)

The Welsh Government has issued an easy to miss statement on Digital Connectivity in Wales, which among other things reveals that their £52.5m Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband rollout contract with Openreach (BT) is now expected to cover slightly more premises. But this will push completion back to 31st March 2023.

Openreach Add 12 New UK FTTP Broadband Rollout Areas – July 2022

19th Jul, 2022 (30 Comments)

Network access provider Openreach (BT) has today added 12 new places (towns and villages) to their £15bn rollout of a new 1Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network, which also includes a few corrections due to past errors and a larger build on the Isle of Wight. Some 8 million premises are now covered.

CWU Sets Timetable for 2 Day National BT and Openreach Strike

15th Jul, 2022 (21 Comments)

The Communications Workers Union (CWU) has this afternoon formally served notice for strike action against UK telecoms and broadband ISP giant BT (inc. Openreach), which will take place on Friday 29th July and Monday 1st August 2022. Up to around 38,000 workers could potentially go on strike, although exact figures may be less.

CityFibre Banner and Fibre Optic Cable Reel

CityFibre Lose Appeal vs Ofcom’s Approval of Openreach FTTP Price Cut UPDATE

15th Jul, 2022 (10 Comments)

The Competition Appeal Tribunal has today “dismissed” CityFibre’s attempt to challenge Ofcom’s approval of Openreach’s (BT) “Equinox” offer (here), which introduced a “major” price cut (details) at wholesale to their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband products for UK ISPs. But the operator is far from giving up.

Rights Holders Force UK Mobile Operators to Block Piracy Sites

12th Jul, 2022 (10 Comments)

The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has announced that its long-running campaign, which uses the High Court to force major UK broadband ISPs into blocking websites that are suspected of facilitating copyright infringement (internet piracy), is being extended to mobile operators – starting with EE (BT).

Ofcom Monitors UK Internet Phone Providers Over 999 Concerns UPDATE

11th Jul, 2022 (18 Comments)

Ofcom has today opened a new monitoring programme, which will pay special attention to checking whether internet phone providers, such as those offered by dedicated Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and broadband providers (ISP), are ensuring the availability of access to emergency services (999) during power cuts.

Ofcom Sets Out UK Internet Censorship Plans Under Safety Bill

6th Jul, 2022 (19 Comments)

The UK communications and media regulator, Ofcom, has today set out their plans for putting the mess of complex and confusing legislation – that is the Online Safety Bill (OSB) – into practice, which aims to tackle “harmful” internet content through website bans by broadband ISPs, fines and other sanctions.

protest and strike uk concept with megaphone

BT Staff Vote to Strike Over Pay as Openreach Prep Contingency Plan

30th Jun, 2022 (44 Comments)

The Communications Workers Union (CWU), which represents c. 40,000 staff at the UK telecoms and broadband ISP giant BT (inc. Openreach), has today – following a dispute over pay – voted to hit the operator with its first national strike in 35 years. Delays to service provision are expected, unless a last minute deal can be done.