Home » UK ISP News Archive » Article Tag: Ofcom Regulation (1467 Posts)

Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

ISPs and Content Providers Respond to Ofcom’s UK Net Neutrality Review

4th January, 2022 (26 Comments)

Ofcom has published some of the first responses from UK broadband ISPs and internet content providers to their new review of Net Neutrality rules, which were designed to ensure no serious blocking or slowing of access to legal websites or other online services by ISPs and mobile operators. Suffice to say, vested interests split the pack.

Ofcom Bans UK Mobile Operators from Locking Phones

17th December, 2021 (29 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today begun to enforce a number of new consumer protection measures on mobile operators, which in practice means that they can no longer supply locked phones and are now limited to a maximum contract term of 24-months on bundles (mobile plans and handsets).

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Connected Nations 2021 – UK Gigabit Broadband Cover Hits 47%

16th December, 2021 (15 Comments)

Ofcom has released their Connection Nations 2021 UK digital infrastructure report, which reveals that the coverage of “gigabit-capable” (1Gbps+) broadband ISP networks has jumped from 27% last year to 47% now (13.7 million households). Plus, around half of UK properties are in areas where 5G mobile is available outside.

Ofcom UK Sets Out Predictable Annual Work Plan for 2022-23

15th December, 2021 (2 Comments)

The UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has today proposed a new annual work plan for the 2022-23 period. The generalised summary covers everything from improving fairness for consumers to the 2G / 3G mobile switch-off and the migration to VoIP phone services from copper lines, among many other things.

Parliamentary Committee Sets Out Plan for UK Internet Regulation

14th December, 2021 (24 Comments)

The Joint Committee on the controversial Draft Online Safety Bill (OSB), which was setup to help establish the regulatory framework to help Ofcom tackle “harmful” content online (e.g. hate speech, bullying, terrorism, conspiracy theories etc.), has today published its report. But the tougher rules and tighter offences may not all be workable.

4 Fibre and Converged Communication Solutions Plan FTTP Broadband Builds UPDATE

13th December, 2021 (0 Comments)

Two new UK Alternative Network (altnet) builders – 4 Fibre (SCCI Group) and Converged Communication Solutions – have today revealed their tentative plans to rollout or expand an existing Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network across some very different parts of the country.

Mobile Operators Unhappy as Ofcom Set Licence Fees for 2100MHz

13th December, 2021 (9 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today set new annual licence fees (ALF) for spectrum licences in the 2100MHz band, which was originally auctioned off in April 2000 to support the rollout of 3G mobile (mobile broadband) networks for the eye watering sum of £22.5bn. But mobile operators aren’t happy about the change.

New UK AltNet Provider AllPoints Fibre to Build FTTP Broadband

9th December, 2021 (0 Comments)

A new London-based alternative network builder called AllPoints Fibre (APF), which is being backed by investment from the Fern Trading Group (advised by Octopus Investments), has today joined the UK market with a plan to deploy a new “open access” wholesale Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network that other ISPs can harness.

CityFibre Start Legal Fight Over Ofcom Approval of Openreach FTTP Price Cut UPDATE2

8th December, 2021 (22 Comments)

CityFibre has this week carried out their earlier threats by launching an appeal via the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) to challenge Ofcom’s recent approval of Openreach’s “Equinox” offer (here), which introduced a “major” price cut (details) to the incumbents Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband products for UK ISPs.

Ofcom Reports Good UK Progress on Openreach’s Split from BT UPDATE

8th December, 2021 (8 Comments)

Ofcom has today published their annual monitoring report, which finds that Openreach continues to “operate with a high degree of strategic and operational independence” from BT and there has been positive progress in take-up of their Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) product by rival broadband ISPs. Only a few small issues remain.

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All Public 2G and 3G UK Mobile Services Switched Off by 2033

8th December, 2021 (37 Comments)

The Government has unveiled a new agreement with the four primary mobile network operators, including Vodafone, EE (BT), O2 (VMO2) and Three UK, which among other things will see existing 2G and 3G signals being “phased out” by 2033 (benefitting 4G / 5G services and mobile broadband) and a new target for OpenRAN adoption.

Ofcom UK Seeks Views on Using Terahertz Bands for Broadband

2nd December, 2021 (13 Comments)

Ofcom has today opened a new consultation that seeks feedback on how to maximise the long-term value of Terahertz spectrum, which is expected to play a role in future wireless broadband and mobile broadband (6G) technologies and could deliver speeds of 1 Terabits per second (Tbps) or 1000Gbps (Gigabits).

Ofcom Fines O2 UK GBP150,000 Over Inaccurate Information UPDATE

1st December, 2021 (4 Comments)

Mobile operator O2 (VMO2) has been fined £150k by the UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, after they were found to have provided “inaccurate and incomplete information” during an earlier investigation into the company’s billing issues (here), which separately resulted in the operator being fined £10.5m for overcharging customers.

Ofcom’s End-of-Contract Notifications Deliver Broadband Savings

30th November, 2021 (5 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today given itself a pat on the back after its research found that 1.3 million broadband ISP customers had secured better deals as a result of their new End-of-Contract Notification (ECN) system. Overpayments by mobile customers also dropped by £100m due to new rules on handset bundles.

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Low Awareness Hampers Take-up of UK Social Broadband Tariffs

24th November, 2021 (11 Comments)

A new Opinium survey for Uswitch, which questioned 2,000 UK adults this month, has estimated that 65% of those deemed to be “financially vulnerable people” aren’t aware that social tariffs for broadband exist from various UK ISPs, with just 15% of eligible households actually applying for them.

Rivals Prep Legal Challenge Over Ofcom Approval of Openreach FTTP Price Cut

21st November, 2021 (31 Comments)

Several alternative UK network (AltNets) builders, including Gigaclear and CityFibre, among others, are reportedly set to launch a legal challenge against Ofcom’s recent approval of Openreach’s “Equinox” offer (here), which introduces a “major” price cut (details) to the incumbents Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband products.

BT Granted Permission to Appeal Landline Overcharging Ruling UPDATE

19th November, 2021 (3 Comments)

The UK Court of Appeal (CoA) has granted broadband ISP BT permission to try to appeal the Competition Appeals Tribunal‘s (CAT) judgement, which last month rejected the operator’s attempt to stop a £600m class action claim against them – related to the alleged overcharging of 2.3 million landline-only phone customers.