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Latest Key Developments

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.

2018 Study Compares Big UK Mobile and Broadband ISPs by Quality

3rd May, 2018 (3 Comments)

Ofcom has published their annual study of service quality, call waiting times, complaints and service provision among the largest UK ISPs and Mobile operators, which among other things found that Plusnet had the longest call waiting times (7:50 mins) and the highest broadband satisfaction (86%).

Ofcom Prep More Contract Clarity for Broadband and Mobile Consumers

27th Apr, 2018 (9 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has hinted that it intends to improve “end of contract notifications” for phone, mobile and broadband consumers, which among other things could require ISPs to “proactively inform” customers when they are approaching or are at the end of their minimum contract term.

Northern Ireland to Consult on £150m Ultrafast Broadband Boost

25th Apr, 2018 (1 Comment)

Last year the Conservative UK government agreed to hand £75m per year (over two years) to “help provide ultra-fast broadband” (100Mbps+) across Northern Ireland, which formed part of a political deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in order to secure the support of their 10 MPs.

Terms Agreed for Bidco to Buy UK FTTH Builder CityFibre for £538m

24th Apr, 2018 (5 Comments)

Fibre optic (FTTP/H) network builder Cityfibre has announced that they’ve agreed the terms of a recommended £537.8m cash acquisition by Connect Infrastructure Bidco Limited (Bidco), which is a newly-incorporated company that is jointly-owned by a consortium of two key infrastructure investors.

Government Proposes Tougher Rules to Protect UK Consumers

11th Apr, 2018 (7 Comments)

The Government has today published a new Green Paper that proposes a number of changes to help protect consumers from bad practices, such as by simplifying Terms & Conditions (T&Cs), bundles and protecting people from “unexpected payments” that may arise via subscription services.

Ofcom Reveal Initial UK 4G and 5G Mobile Spectrum Auction Winners

5th Apr, 2018 (12 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today revealed the preliminary winners from their auction of the new 4G Mobile friendly 2.3GHz and future 5G destined 3.4GHz radio spectrum bands. All of the major mobile operators have won a slice and the total value of the principal stage is £1,355,744,000.

Ofcom Tweak Final Pricing for Openreach 40Mbps FTTC Broadband

28th Mar, 2018 (11 Comments)

Ofcom has today published a final statement on their recent UK Wholesale Local Access Market Review (WLAMR), which is broadly unchanged from last month’s major announcement (here) but there has been a tweak to wholesale FTTC “fibre broadband” pricing for UK ISPs.