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Latest Key Developments

Ofcom Tests New Rules on Openreach’s FTTP Exchange Upgrade Trial

24th Jul, 2019 (7 Comments)

Ofcom has announced that they will test a softer approach to UK telecoms regulation on Openreach’s new FTTP broadband Exchange Upgrade trial in Salisbury (Wiltshire), which is testing how the operator will in the future handle a complete migration from copper to “full fibre” lines.

Openreach Cuts UK ISP Wholesale Prices for FTTP Ultrafast Broadband

22nd Jul, 2019 (37 Comments)

Openreach (BT) has today announced that they’re cutting the wholesale prices of their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) ultrafast broadband lines from 1st September 2019, which is intended to help encourage take-up of the new service by ISPs (provided Ofcom approve their proposed changes, which they probably will).

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Ofcom Pushes Fair Pricing on UK Mobile and Handset Bundles

22nd Jul, 2019 (8 Comments)

The UK communications and media (broadband, mobile, TV etc.) regulator has today set out a range of new measures that are intended to tackle bundles of both mobile handsets and tariffs (airtime contracts) together, which often continue to charge consumers for the handset even once the minimum contract term has ended.

Fibre ISPs Take Note – UK Consults on New EU Electronic Comms Code

19th Jul, 2019 (0 Comments)

The Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has begun consulting on its plan to implement the new European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) into UK law, which includes new provisions that are intended to boost the rollout of Gigabit speed “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband and 5G mobile networks.

Cityfibre Confirm 14 UK Towns and Cities for Phase 2 FTTH Rollout

19th Jul, 2019 (22 Comments)

Cityfibre has today confirmed the next 14 UK cities and towns (only three are new additions) to benefit from Phase Two their £2.5bn rollout of a new Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband network, which is being supported by residential ISP partner Vodafone and aims to cover 5 million premises by 2025.

Ofcom Toughens UK Phone Number Porting to Prevent Abuse

8th Jul, 2019 (6 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today introduced new protections, which are designed to make it harder for dodgy fixed broadband ISPs and phone providers to block or hinder consumers from being able to port their telephone numbers to a different provider.

Vodafone UK Give 5G Launch a Boost by Adding Unlimited Data

3rd Jul, 2019 (35 Comments)

ISP Vodafone has today gone live in 7 UK cities with their new 5G based ultrafast mobile broadband network. At the same time they’ve moved to challenge Three UK by introducing a new range of SIM-only and handset plans with “unlimited data” (also on 4G services). A new home broadband (FTTC) and mobile bundle is coming too.

Ofcom – From Monday Text PAC to 65075 to Switch UK Mobile Operators

28th Jun, 2019 (53 Comments)

The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today braced the industry for the introduction of their new “Text-to-Switch” (Auto-Switching) system for UK mobile operators like Vodafone, O2, Three UK and EE, which is going live on Monday next week. The new system will make it easier and quicker for consumers to change networks.

Gov to Give CMA Power to Fine UK Broadband ISPs for Loyalty Penalty UPDATE

18th Jun, 2019 (3 Comments)

The UK Government has proposed to beef up the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) so that it can “decide for itself whether consumer protection law has been broken” and impose fines for “wrongdoing,” such when potentially unfair pricing is applied to vulnerable customers (“loyalty penalty“).

Openreach to Trial FTTP Exchange Upgrade Process and Digital Voice

18th Jun, 2019 (20 Comments)

Openreach (BT) has announced two new UK technology trials (i.e. an FTTP Exchange Upgrade process and Digital Voice services) for premises in Salisbury (Wiltshire) and Mildenhall (Suffolk), which forms part of their wider efforts to move toward an All-IP and national “full fibre” broadband ISP network.

Ofcom to Tackle Unfair and Harmful Practices by UK Broadband ISPs

17th Jun, 2019 (11 Comments)

The national UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today begun a new consultation that seeks views on their plans to create a new Fairness Framework (guidelines), which will be designed to explain to broadband, phone and TV providers how they will consider whether their practices and the way they treat their customers is fair.

UK Ranks 5th in 2019 EU Broadband Connectivity Progress Study

11th Jun, 2019 (7 Comments)

The European Commission has published their 2019 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which uses data from 2018 to reveal how the UK’s fixed line broadband and mobile networks compare with the rest of the EU. This year we jumped in overall rank from 6th to 5th out of 28 countries but are only 10th for connectivity.

Ofcom Set March 2020 Launch for 10Mbps UK Broadband USO

6th Jun, 2019 (48 Comments)

The national telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today confirmed the final details for how the new 10Mbps+ (1Mbps upload) Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband – to be supplied by ISPs BT and KCOM – will be delivered and work once it’s introduced from 20th March 2020.

Code of Practice to Boost Fibre Broadband Street Works in Scotland

3rd Jun, 2019 (0 Comments)

The Scottish Government has officially implemented a new Code of Practice in Scotland, which appears to create a uniform technical standard for “narrow trenching” method of civil engineering (i.e. trenches less than 300mm in width) that could help to speed up the rollout of fibre broadband ISP networks across the country.

New UK Consumer Advocate to Tackle Unfair Broadband Practices UPDATE2

3rd Jun, 2019 (4 Comments)

The Government has revealed that they will soon legislate to create a new independent “consumer advocate,” which will be given the task of tackling “unfair” practices within the UK telecoms market (broadband ISPs and mobile operators). On top of that they will also provide “direct support” to consumers.

UK ISPs Sign-up to New Ofcom Fairness for Customers Commitment

3rd Jun, 2019 (7 Comments)

The biggest home broadband, phone, mobile and pay TV providers from across the United Kingdom have today announced that they’re signing up to Ofcom’s new “Fairness for Customers” commitment, which covers a variety of areas from the quality of support to clarity of information and fairness in pricing.

Ofcom Push Dark Fibre and Unrestricted Openreach UK Duct Access

24th May, 2019 (18 Comments)

Ofcom has today proposed changes under their latest UK Physical Infrastructure (PIR) and Business Connectivity Market Reviews (BCMR), which imposes tougher service quality standards upon Openreach’s (BT) network, introduces a regulated Dark Fibre solution and gives ISPs “unrestricted access” to their cable ducts and poles.