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Latest Key Developments

Ofcom Force More Contract Clarity for UK Broadband and Mobile Users

31st Jul, 2018 (41 Comments)

The national UK telecoms regulator has today proposed new rules that will require phone / broadband ISPs, Pay TV and Mobile operators to inform customers when they approach the end of their minimum contract term, which might also help to encourage more switching within the market and save consumers money.

Government Puts Extra £45m to Improve Rural Broadband Cover

26th Jul, 2018 (12 Comments)

The UK Government’s Rural Development Programme for England has today committed an extra £45m to their existing Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme (RBIS), which is intended to help rural businesses and communities to build new 30Mbps+ capable superfast broadband ISP networks in poorly served areas.

Openreach Slash Wholesale Fibre Broadband Prices for UK ISPs

24th Jul, 2018 (22 Comments)

Openreach (BT) is to cut the prices of their wholesale “fibre broadband” (FTTC and FTTP) products to ISPs by up to 40%, which they say is designed to encourage providers to switch more of their old copper line (ADSL) users on to faster internet connections and this in turn will help to improve coverage.

Ofcom Sets Out Changes to Fuel UK Full Fibre Broadband Rollout

24th Jul, 2018 (19 Comments)

The national telecoms regulator has today followed yesterday’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (here) by setting out the core regulatory changes that they intend to pursue, which will support the government’s new plan and aim to spread Gigabit capable “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband ISP networks to all by 2033.

Gov Detail BIG Changes to Boost UK Full Fibre Broadband and 5G UPDATE5

23rd Jul, 2018 (53 Comments)

The UK government has today set out a range of new proposals (copper switch-off, regulatory reforms etc.) as part of their Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), which seeks to help boost investment and support for future 5G mobile and “full fibre” (FTTH/P) ultrafast broadband. But there are caveats.

Openreach Name Next 59 UK Areas for G.fast Ultrafast Broadband

25th Jun, 2018 (56 Comments)

Openreach (BT) has announced that a further 59 locations across the United Kingdom will be the next to benefit from their on-going deployment of 330Mbps capable hybrid fibre G.fast (ITU G.9700/9701) broadband technology, which aim to cover 10 million homes and businesses by the end of 2020.

Ofcom Deregulate More UK Broadband and Tighten Rules for KCOM

21st Jun, 2018 (14 Comments)

After a bit of a delay Ofcom has today published the draft outcome of their latest Wholesale Broadband Access (WBA) market review, which among other things imposes some new rules upon KCOM in Hull (East Yorkshire) and relaxes regulation across more of the UK due to rising competition between ISPs.

Mobile UK and National Parks England Sign Deal to Boost Network Cover

21st Jun, 2018 (3 Comments)

The trade body for Three UK, Vodafone, O2 and EE (Mobile UK) and National Parks England have today come together to announce a “landmark agreement“, which aims to help boost the roll-out of new mobile infrastructure (4G) while still “respecting the beauty and sensitivity of the nation’s national parks.”

UK Landowners Revise Wayleave Agreement to Help Rural Broadband

20th Jun, 2018 (2 Comments)

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and National Farmers Union (NFU) have today updated their existing wayleave framework for ISPs, which was first agreed in 2013 (here) and has now been revised to help “speed up rural broadband roll-out” and reflect recent changes in UK law.

EU Boost Fibre and Admit Failing its 2020 Ultrafast Broadband Target UPDATE

6th Jun, 2018 (7 Comments)

The European Commission has approved a new Electronic Communications Code (ECC) that could boost investment in “full fibre” (FTTP/H) and 5G mobile. At the same time a new report from the European Court of Auditors confirms that their original target for “ultrafast broadband” (100Mbps+) take-up will be missed.

Chancellor Targets Full Fibre for Majority of UK Premises by 2025 UPDATE3

22nd May, 2018 (28 Comments)

The Government’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond MP, has this afternoon surprised and confused in equal measure by announcing that he wants to see the “majority” of UK homes and businesses being reached by Gigabit capable “full fibre” (FTTP/H) broadband ISP networks by the end of 2025.

UK Ranks 7th in 2018 EU Broadband Connectivity Progress Report

18th May, 2018 (16 Comments)

The European Commission has publish their 2018 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which uses data from 2017 and 2018 to reveal the United Kingdom’s progress toward the EU’s Digital Agenda goals (e.g. NGA 30Mbps+ broadband for all by 2020). This year we remain ranked 7th out of 28 member states.

Welsh Government Update on BT Rollout of Superfast Broadband

16th May, 2018 (12 Comments)

The Welsh Government has issued a progress update on their existing Superfast Cymru project with Openreach (BT), which suggests that BT has delivered a “significantly larger volume” of premises than either party anticipated at the outset but some areas are still causing problems.

BT Details Plan for UK’s First Converged Digital Network by 2022

16th May, 2018 (26 Comments)

Last week BT talked about their aim to have a “single integrated all-IP fibre network” that enabled seamless converged access across fixed, WiFi and mobile services. Today BT’s consumer division, which includes ISP Plusnet and mobile giant EE, has explained more about how this will all work.

Openreach Begin Consulting on Withdrawal of UK PSTN Phone Network

15th May, 2018 (34 Comments)

As expected Openreach (BT) has today begun consulting broadband ISPs and the wider UK telecoms industry on their plan to withdraw the old traditional analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and replace it with new digital, internet based (all IP) services by 2025.

BT Cut 13K Jobs, Raise £3.7bn to Boost FTTP Broadband and Mobile UPDATE

10th May, 2018 (66 Comments)

BT has released their Q1 2018 (calendar) results, which sees them increase FTTP and Mobile infrastructure investment via an annual capex allocation of around £3.7bn (excluding BDUK) and report that 1.56 million UK premises are now covered by their G.fast and FTTP based “ultrafast broadband” (100Mbps+).

Ofcom 2018 Study – Average Home Broadband Speeds Hit 46.2Mbps

9th May, 2018 (9 Comments)

Ofcom has published their annual study of fixed line home broadband ISP speeds across the United Kingdom, which reveals that the average download rate has risen from 36.2Mbps last year to 46.2Mbps now, while uploads hit 6.2Mbps (up from 4.3Mbps). Sadly the gap between urban and rural areas persists.