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Articles for Category Tag - Europe

ISPA UK Doubts EU Can Deliver Digital Single Market Policy On Time

9th July, 2015 (0 Comments)

The UK Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) has warned that Europe’s attempts to introduce a new Digital Single Market strategy by the end of 2016, which covers everything from tackling “illegal” Internet content to boosting investment in faster broadband or mobile networks, is in “serious danger” of missing its target.

Study Finds BT “Fibre Broadband” Rollout Benefitted Cornwall by GBP186m

3rd July, 2015 (11 Comments)

New research claims that the first Superfast Cornwall contract, which recently completed and expanded the reach of BT’s “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network to 95% of premises in the English county (up from the original target of 80%), has so far delivered a local economic benefit worth £186.1m.

Watered Down EU Deal to Protect Open Internet and End Roaming Charges

30th June, 2015 (1 Comment)

After years of disagreement the European Parliament, Council and Commission claim to have finally reached a deal that will both “end” mobile roaming charges on 15th June 2017 and introduce “strong net neutrality rules” in order to protect open Internet access. But some of the rules have been watered down.

EU Says Governments Can’t Force Universe Mobile Broadband Coverage

19th June, 2015 (0 Comments)

Efforts by the Government to force UK mobile operators into offering universal coverage have been dealt a blow after the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) ruled that such a legally binding Universal Service Obligation (USO) cannot, under current EU rules, be forced upon providers.

New Award Sees Europe Hunt for the Top 5 European Broadband Projects

19th June, 2015 (0 Comments)

The European Commission has started a new competition (‘European Broadband Award‘) that aims to identify the five best “high-speed” (30Mbps+) broadband projects that are delivering in urban, suburban and rural areas. But the EC’s “Good Practice” examples are.. less encouraging.

UK Falls One Place in 2015 EU Digital Agenda Broadband Progress Report

18th June, 2015 (23 Comments)

The European Commission has updated their EU Broadband Scorecard, which uses data from Dec 2014 and Jan 2015 to reveal the United Kingdom’s progress toward Europe’s overall Digital Agenda goals (e.g. ensuring 100% coverage of 30Mbps+ Internet speeds, with 50% take-up of 100Mbps+). But we’re now ranked 5th for connectivity, down one place from 4th last year.

EU Regulators Find Internet Restrictions Cause Consumers to Switch ISP

10th June, 2015 (1 Comment)

The Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications, which represents telecoms regulators from across the EU (e.g. Ofcom in the UK), has conducted a new survey to uncover consumer attitudes towards Net Neutrality. The study unsurprisingly reveals that consumers would switch ISP if a provider imposed certain limits on their access.

Satellite Might Not be the Best Fix for UK and EU Superfast Broadband

29th May, 2015 (23 Comments)

As Europe’s 2020 Digital Agenda deadline looms, when every home across the EU is supposed to be put within reach of a 30Mbps+ capable “superfast” broadband connection (plus 50% subscribed to a 100Mbps+ service), there’s a growing recognition that the target will not be met. Some hope that Satellite might be the solution, but it’s not so simple.

Independent Test of UK Fibre Broadband Rollout Rules BDUK is “Effective”

20th May, 2015 (9 Comments)

The Government’s £1.7bn state aid supported Broadband Delivery UK project, which aims to make superfast broadband (24Mbps+) speeds available to 95% of the country by 2017/18 and is largely dominated by BT, has been deemed “effective” by a new independent evaluation. But the report also raises a few concerns.

One in Three Premises on the UK Isles of Scilly Take BT’s Fibre Broadband

12th May, 2015 (0 Comments)

According to BT about 1 in 3 premises (homes and businesses) on the Isles of Scilly are now connected to the operators new “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network, which was only installed on the island community some six months ago as part of the wider EU backed £132m Superfast Cornwall project.

EU Sets Out New Rules to Boost Mobile, Broadband and Internet Services

6th May, 2015 (2 Comments)

After somewhat of a change in management the European Commission has today moved to adopt the final design for a Digital Single Market strategy across the EU, which among other things aims to foster online trade, harmonise radio spectrum for mobile services and create better incentives for investment in high-speed broadband.

Europe Moots Future Ultrafast Broadband Speed Targets for Post 2020

18th April, 2015 (17 Comments)

The European Commission’s new Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Günther Oettinger, has for the first time started to discuss what targets we should aim for after the current Digital Agenda programme completes and hopefully delivers “superfast” broadband speeds of 30Mbps+ to all by 2020; with 50% also subscribed to a 100Mbps+ service.

UPDATE BT Hails Strong Uptake of Superfast Broadband in Cornwall UK

17th March, 2015 (5 Comments)

Telecoms giant BT has today reported that their joint £132m Superfast Cornwall project with the EU, which has already deployed the operators “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network to cover around 95% of local premises (including the Isles of Scilly), has seen strong uptake by local premises with 60,000 subscribers choosing to adopt it.

EU Council Moves to Weaken Net Neutrality and Scrap Free Mobile Roaming

5th March, 2015 (1 Comment)

The Council of the EU, which represents the governments of Europe’s member states (e.g. UK, France, Italy etc.), has put a spanner in the works of long held plans to end mobile roaming charges and safeguard open Internet access (Net Neutrality) by attempting to water down the proposed rules for a new Single Telecoms Market.

EU Caution Ofcom Over Regulation of BT’s FTTC “Fibre Broadband” Prices

20th February, 2015 (28 Comments)

The national UK telecoms regulator’s plan to control the margin between BT’s wholesale and retail superfast “fibre broadband” (FTTC) prices has suffered a setback, albeit a non-binding one, after the European Commission (EC) warned that the “proposed approach lacks the necessary flexibility” and could result in higher retail prices for consumers.

UK Lords Report Demands Universal Internet Access as a Utility Service

17th February, 2015 (7 Comments)

The House of Lords, specifically their Digital Skills Committee, has today published a new report and warned that the United Kingdom is at a “tipping point” because it hasn’t fully addressed the “significant digital skills shortage“. One of the proposed remedies for this is to define the Internet as a utility service, “available for all to access and use“.

Broadband to Benefit as EU Approve GBP3bn UK Rural Development Boost

13th February, 2015 (27 Comments)

The European Commission has approved a further 18 Rural Development Programmes (worth around £10.6bn between now and 2020), which among other things will be used to improve the competitiveness of the EU’s farming sector and upgrade broadband connectivity for rural areas. Some £2,568m of the total (3.56%) will be allocated by the EU to projects in England.