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Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

Plusnet, Vodafone and EE Stalled Over Automatic Compensation

26th February, 2020 (13 Comments)

Ofcom’s automatic compensation system for customers of UK broadband ISPs has now been in operation for almost a full year, but despite that three of the providers that originally pledged their support – Vodafone, Plusnet and EE – have yet to officially join the scheme. But this could be about to change.

New UK Homes Ombudsman’s Remit to Cover Broadband Speed

26th February, 2020 (6 Comments)

The UK Government has confirmed its intention to launch a ‘New Homes Ombudsman’ in order to protect homebuyers from “rogue” developers and their shoddy work, but if you look deep into the text this also appears to include tackling complaints related to “broadband performance.” Sadly the details are extremely vague.

Ofcom Warns Major UK Broadband ISPs Over Charging for Email

22nd February, 2020 (59 Comments)

Buying your own email address from a dedicated UK web hosting provider is cheap (c.£1-3 a month), unless you’re a former broadband ISP customer of BT (£7.50) or TalkTalk (£5) where in order to keep your address you can end up being charged significantly more for an often inferior product. Ofcom isn’t happy.

Ofcom UK Tests 5G Mobile Emissions and Finds No Concerns

21st February, 2020 (29 Comments)

After recently publishing our fact check article on 5G (mobile broadband) health fears (here), we thought it might also be prudent to report on the results of Ofcom’s recent measurements of the electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions at related mobile sites, which found no problems. But the regulator do plan new licence conditions.

Ofcom Repay £218m to UK Mobile Operators for Overcharging

19th February, 2020 (5 Comments)

Ofcom has lost its appeal against last year’s ruling by the UK High Court of Justice (here), which ordered them to repay £218m to mobile operators as part of restitution for their handling of a licence fee hike to the 900MHz and 1800MHz spectrum bands (i.e. £82.4m to EE, £54m for Vodafone, £54m for O2 and £26m for Three UK).

End of Contract Letters to Start for UK Mobile and Broadband ISPs

14th February, 2020 (21 Comments)

Starting tomorrow all fixed broadband, mobile, home phone and pay TV providers will be required to implement Ofcom’s end-of-contract notification system (sent by text, email or letter), which is designed to help tackle the so-called “loyalty penalty” by keeping customers informed about the best deals and encouraging switching.

Ofcom Appoint Dame Melanie Dawes as CEO, Replaces Chairman

12th February, 2020 (2 Comments)

The UK broadband, media and communications regulator, Ofcom, has today announced that, following a delay due to the General Election, they’ve finally found their new CEO in the shape of Dame Melanie Dawes. She replaces “interim” CEO Jonathan Oxley, who himself became a stand-in after Sharon White’s exit.

A Curious Case of 10Mbps USO Eligibility in Existing FTTH Areas

8th February, 2020 (43 Comments)

The Government’s new 10Mbps+ Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband is due to start next month, although for some ISPs Ofcom’s approach to eligibility has created a few puzzled faces. As a result some people may live in areas covered by a 1Gbps FTTH ISP, yet still be able to request the USO.

Fight Over Costs Threatens Shared UK Rural Mobile Network

5th February, 2020 (9 Comments)

The £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) agreement between BT (EE), Vodafone, Three UK and O2, which aims to extend geographic 4G mobile (mobile broadband) coverage to 95% of the UK by 2025, could be in doubt after some of the participants expressed concern over high costs. A key meeting is due to discuss the issue today.

Biz ISP Commsworld is First to Deploy Openreach Dark Fibre X

5th February, 2020 (0 Comments)

Scotland-based UK business ISP Commsworld today claims to have become the first operator to take advantage of Openreach’s (BT) new Dark Fibre X (DFX) product, which is only focused upon serving the limited inter-exchange connectivity market. As a result broadband speeds of 10Gbps may reach several Borders towns.

Parents Find UK ISP Network Level Internet Filters Beneficial

4th February, 2020 (1 Comment)

Ofcom’s latest annual ‘Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes‘ report has found that 9 out of 10 parents who use the network-level internet content filters provided by big UK broadband ISPs find them beneficial, but many still don’t use them and a fair few children can circumvent these systems.

Ofcom Toughens Personal UK Broadband ISP Speed Estimates

30th January, 2020 (30 Comments)

Ofcom has today announced that they intend to toughen their existing Broadband Speed Code of Practice, which among other things requires UK ISPs to supply consumers with a personal estimate of their broadband line speed before buying. Under the new change this estimate will become more accurate, but there’s a catch.

Ofcom Clear Openreach FTTP Migration Trials with Softer Rules

29th January, 2020 (7 Comments)

Ofcom has today implemented softer rules to support Openreach’s (BT) IP (VoIP) and FTTP UK migration trials in Salisbury and Mildenhall (here), which aim to test the processes for moving customers off older copper broadband ISP and telephone services. Discounts and a new bulk migration process are part of the changes.

Ofcom Drop Probe of BT Excess Construction Charges for Biz Lines

28th January, 2020 (0 Comments)

Ofcom has decided to drop last year’s investigation into whether BT had correctly billed for Excess Construction Charges (ECCs) when providing new UK business lines (Ethernet services etc.). The regulator made their decision in light of the “limited consumer harm” and “proactive steps” that Openreach had taken to address the issue.

Vodafone Created Most UK Complaints in Q3 2019 – Ofcom Study

24th January, 2020 (9 Comments)

Ofcom has today published their latest Q3 2019 consumer complaints report, which reveals that UK ISP Vodafone attracted the most gripes for fixed line broadband, home phone and mobile (Pay Monthly) service. Meanwhile Virgin Media took the most flak their Pay TV service.

Ofcom UK Set Final Fairness Framework to Tackle Unfair Practices

23rd January, 2020 (1 Comment)

Ofcom has published their final Fairness Framework (guidelines) for UK providers of mobile, home phone, pay TV and fixed broadband ISPs, which have been designed to show consumers how the regulator will in future assess whether such providers, and the way they treat their customers, is fair (pricing, transparency, support etc.).

Problems Remain – CMA Updates on Ofcom Loyalty Penalty Fixes

21st January, 2020 (0 Comments)

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has issued its annual update on Ofcom’s progress toward tackling the “loyalty penalty” in UK broadband ISP and mobile services, which can result in existing customers paying “significantly more” than new ones. Overall the progress has been good, but not all operators are playing ball.