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Latest Key Developments

ISP Vodafone UK Extends FTTP Broadband with Openreach Deal

11th Nov, 2019 (18 Comments)

Mobile operator and ISP Vodafone UK has today moved to mix the on-going rollout of their new 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based “Gigafast Broadband” network with Cityfibre by striking a new commercial deal with Openreach (BT), which gives them access to the latter’s “full fibre” network too.

Virgin Media UK Says Goodbye to BT, Signs Vodafone for Mobile UPDATE

6th Nov, 2019 (45 Comments)

Cable TV and broadband ISP Virgin Media UK (Liberty Global) has today made the surprise announcement that their long-running Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) agreement with BT (EE) will be coming to an end. Instead they’ve signed a new 5-year partnership deal for Virgin Mobile with rival operator Vodafone.

Ofcom Consult on Funding for the 10Mbps UK Broadband USO

5th Nov, 2019 (10 Comments)

Ofcom has today opened a new consultation on the funding (compensation) arrangements for BT and KCOM’s forthcoming Universal Service Obligation (USO), which is due to begin on the 20th March 2020 and aims to ensure that everybody can request a minimum broadband speed of “at least” 10Mbps (1Mbps upload).

Ofcom’s New 5G Mobile Auction Plan for 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz

28th Oct, 2019 (5 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today confirmed that they will proceed to auction of the 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz radio spectrum bands in spring 2020 to boost new 5G networks to potentially Gigabit-capable (1000Mbps+) mobile broadband speeds. But in light of last week’s Shared Rural Network deal (here), the coverage obligation is gone.

Government in £1bn Deal for 95% Geographic UK 4G Mobile by 2025

25th Oct, 2019 (11 Comments)

The Government has today announced a new £1bn deal with Three UK, Vodafone, O2 and EE (BT) to establish a new Shared Rural Network (SRN), which will see the mobile operators working cooperatively together in order to extend the geographic coverage of 4G (mobile broadband) services to 95% of the UK by 2025.

O2 UK’s Unlimited 5G Mobile Network Goes Live At No Extra Cost

17th Oct, 2019 (2 Comments)

O2 (Telefonica) has today become the last of the four primary UK operators to switch-on a commercial ultrafast 5G based mobile broadband network, which is initially live across several key hubs in busy areas of Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough and Leeds. Plus it comes at no extra cost on “Custom Plans.”

ISP UK Internet Porn Ban Stalled and Shifted to Online Harms Bill

16th Oct, 2019 (6 Comments)

Confusion reigns today after the Government confirmed that its controversial new internet Age Verification (AV) system, which was due to be implemented by commercial websites and “apps” that contain pornographic content (broadband ISPs would be forced to block sites that fail to comply), “will not be commencing.” But there’s a catch.

2019 Queen’s Speech Sets Out UK Gigabit Broadband Plans UPDATE

14th Oct, 2019 (12 Comments)

The Queen has today carried out the annual State Opening of Parliament, which as per usual included a list of policy plans that the Government intends to put forward over the coming years. As expected this included some planned legislation for broadband and internet safety related matters.

Scotland Pick BT for Part of £600m Superfast Broadband Rollout

10th Oct, 2019 (16 Comments)

The Scottish Government today announced that BT is their ONLY bidder for two of the three areas under the new £600m R100 (Reaching 100%) project, which originally (here) aspired to make “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) ISP networks available to “every single premise in Scotland” by the end of 2021 (March 2022 financial).

New UK Rules to Spread Gigabit Broadband into Big Buildings

10th Oct, 2019 (17 Comments)

The UK Government has today proposed a solution as part of the outcome from their recent consultation, which sought a new way of making it easier for “gigabit-capable” broadband ISPs and mobile network operators to access buildings – usually big apartment blocks (Multi-Dwelling Units) – where “rogue landlords” fail to respond.

Vodafone UK Share Unused 4G Spectrum for Rural Broadband

2nd Oct, 2019 (13 Comments)

Mobile network operator Vodafone UK has, in somewhat of an “industry first,” agreed to help extend Mobile Broadband coverage by sharing some of its “unused” 4G radio spectrum with StrattoOpencell (part of the Digital Colony UK Infrastructure Platform) in order to offer high-speed data in “remote areas without fibre connectivity.”

Openreach Unveil 29 New UK Areas for FTTP Gigabit Broadband

2nd Oct, 2019 (71 Comments)

Network provider Openreach (BT) has today unveiled the next quarterly batch of 29 new UK rollout locations (total of 103 so far) for their 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP technology, which aims to cover 4 million premises (homes and businesses) by March 2021 and then 15 million by around 2025.

Boris Johnson Splurges £5bn on UK 2025 Gigabit Broadband Target UPDATE3

29th Sep, 2019 (77 Comments)

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, is this week expected to commit £5bn of public funding in order to support his seemingly now watered down ambition to have “Gigabit broadband sprouting in every home” by the end of 2025 (full fibre, cable broadband, 5G etc.).

Ofcom Tackle UK Broadband ISP Pricing to Protect Vulnerable Users

25th Sep, 2019 (10 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has concluded their review of broadband ISP pricing and agreed industry changes that are designed to protect “vulnerable” consumers (e.g. pensioners) from “loyalty penalties,” which references how loyal customers (those who don’t switch or renegotiate) often end up paying more.

Openreach Prices New UK Consumer 550Mbps and 1Gbps FTTP Tiers

18th Sep, 2019 (36 Comments)

A couple of months ago Openreach (BT) cut the wholesale prices for their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) ultrafast broadband lines for UK ISPs (here) and revealed that they were planning to introduce two new top tiers for consumers – 550Mbps (75Mbps upload) and 1000Mbps (115Mbps). Today we’ve learnt how much these will cost.

Ofcom – 10Mb Broadband USO Gap Shrinks to 578000 UK Premises

17th Sep, 2019 (20 Comments)

Ofcom has published a Summer 2019 update to their Connected Nations report, which reveals that “full fibre” (FTTP) UK broadband coverage has risen to 8% (up from 7% four months ago) and the number of premises unable to get 10Mbps+ has declined from 619,000 to 578,000. Geographic 4G mobile cover remains at 66%.

Government to Water Down 2025 Full Fibre for All UK Target – Become Gigabit UPDATE

14th Sep, 2019 (57 Comments)

Several industry sources have indicated to ISPreview.co.uk that they now expect the Government to water down Boris Johnson’s (Prime Minister) pledge to cover the United Kingdom in “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband by 2025, which will instead be replaced by “gigabit” or “gigafast” terminology (i.e. delivery by more than just full fibre).