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Latest Key Developments

Ofcom Opens Probe into BT Compliance with Broadband USO UPDATE

15th Oct, 2020 (20 Comments)

Ofcom has this morning opened an investigation to examine whether or not BT is complying with their obligations under the new UK Universal Service Obligation (USO), which requires them to help deliver at least a 10Mbps broadband download speed, upon request, to those in poorly served areas.

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150,000 Premises in Wales to Get FTTP Broadband Under New Deal

14th Oct, 2020 (4 Comments)

Cardiff-based UK ISP Spectrum Internet, which earlier this year revealed that they hoped to build a new 1Gbps Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network to 150,000 homes and businesses across South Wales (here), has today announced that they’ve secured enough investment from Infracapital to get started.

virgin media cable van and two engineers

Virgin Media UK Target 1Gb Broadband for 8 Million More Homes

5th Oct, 2020 (25 Comments)

The new joint venture between ISP Virgin Media and mobile operator O2 (here) appears to have today resulted in an ambition to expand their gigabit-capable broadband network to reach an extra 1 million premises “within 12 months of the merger closing” (total of 16 million) and to then connect a “further 7 million homes.”

Ex-BT CEO to Help UK Gov Hunt for New Telecoms Suppliers

23rd Sep, 2020 (6 Comments)

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has announced that the Ex-BT CEO and former trade minister, Lord Ian Livingston, will lead a new “Telecoms Diversification Task Force” to help diversify the UK’s telecoms (mobile and broadband) supply chain and reduce reliance on high-risk vendors like Huawei.

OneWeb Set to Restart Launches of LEO Broadband Satellites

21st Sep, 2020 (9 Comments)

Space company OneWeb, which is now owned by a consortium of the UK Government and Indian conglomerate Bharti Global (here), has today confirmed that they will begin sending their high-speed broadband capable Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites into orbit again from December 2020.

Alternative UK Fibre ISPs Support Common Wholesale Platform Idea

16th Sep, 2020 (12 Comments)

Research from the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) has claimed that 88.7% of the UK’s challenger alternative broadband network (AltNet) providers would support the creation of a common platform, through which they could provide wholesale services to third-party providers.

Openreach Name 67 UK Areas for Next FTTP Broadband Rollout

15th Sep, 2020 (104 Comments)

Openreach (BT) have today added 67 new locations into their UK “Fibre Cities” roll-out programme for 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP technology, which forms part of their £12bn project to cover 20 million premises by around the mid to late 2020s (2025 – 2030).

cityfibre engineer over reel of purple fibre

Cityfibre UK Build 1Gb FTTP Broadband into First Rural Village

15th Sep, 2020 (0 Comments)

Cityfibre’s FibreNation division, which was previously owned by UK ISP TalkTalk (here), has just completed an interesting new pilot Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) build that saw them deliver gigabit broadband to homes in the rural villages of Hollins Green and Rixton (Warrington). The operator usually only does towns and cities.

Fibrus Win Contract for N.Ireland Superfast Broadband Project UPDATE

14th Sep, 2020 (15 Comments)

Multiple credible sources have informed ISPreview.co.uk that the Northern Ireland Executive are set to announced that alternative network ISP Fibrus has beaten BT (Openreach) to be chosen as the main supplier for their £165m Project Stratum programme, which will extend “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) coverage.

broadband vouchers ultrafast gigabit uk full fibre by 123rf

Gov Hails £22m Top-up for UK Rural Gigabit Broadband Vouchers

12th Sep, 2020 (23 Comments)

The UK Government has today announced that their Rural Gigabit Voucher scheme has been given a £22.2m top-up boost by a total of 17 local councils in England, which has increased the size of their vouchers and meant that more homes and businesses can now potentially get a 1Gbps capable broadband ISP network installed.

Ofcom – Full Fibre Broadband Grows to Cover 14% of the UK

10th Sep, 2020 (13 Comments)

Ofcom has today released their Summer 2020 update for UK broadband and mobile networks, which reveals that “full fibre” (FTTP) coverage has grown to 14% or 4.2 million premises (up from 12% in Jan 2020) and 2% (590,000 premises) are still unable to get speeds of 10Mbps+. Geographic 4G coverage is now 67% (unchanged).

New UK Smart Data Laws May Help Broadband Deal Comparisons

10th Sep, 2020 (0 Comments)

The UK Government has proposed to mandate that broadband and phone providers, as well as related companies in the sector, should participate in their new “Smart Data” initiative, which aims to foster the “sharing [of] customer data” in order to deliver better product comparisons and billing management across accounts etc.

Gigaclear Settles Broadband Lawsuit with Scottish Government UPDATE

25th Aug, 2020 (17 Comments)

We’ve just been informed that UK ISP Gigaclear has today reached a settlement in their R100 (Reaching 100%) legal dispute with the Scottish Government. The case had been preventing the LOT 1 part of the deployment contract from being award to BT and thus delaying the roll-out of “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+).

Ofcom 2020 Study Ranks UK Mobile and Broadband ISPs by Quality

21st Aug, 2020 (13 Comments)

Ofcom UK has published their 2020 survey of broadband and mobile service quality, call waiting times, complaints and install times among the largest ISPs and mobile operators. Overall TalkTalk attracted the lowest satisfaction for home broadband (78%) again, while Three UK were the same for mobile (89%).

Scotland Unveil New Superfast Rural Broadband Voucher Scheme UPDATE

18th Aug, 2020 (20 Comments)

The Scottish Government has this afternoon revealed the details of their new voucher scheme, which aims to help “ensure superfast broadband access for all” by provide funding of up to £5,000 to help homes and businesses not in scope of either their R100 contracts or commercial roll-outs to obtain a 30Mbps+ capable connection.

Ofcom Propose Changes to UK Mobile and Landline Call Charges

13th Aug, 2020 (0 Comments)

The way we all use UK landline phone and mobile calling services is changing and as a result Ofcom are today proposing changes to their regulation via the new Wholesale Voice Markets Review 2021-26 (WVMR), which among other things will set new caps on call termination charges and deregulate other areas.

Gov’s £1bn Helps 493,600 UK Premises Get Gigabit Broadband

8th Aug, 2020 (33 Comments)

The UK Government has today announced that nearly half a million premises have been connected to gigabit-capable broadband since summer 2018, which stems from £1bn of public investment. But in order to push take-up they’re now launching a new Gigabit Take-Up Advisory Group (GigaTAG).