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Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

Ofcom Relaxes UK Broadband ISP Protections During COVID-19

2nd April, 2020 (3 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has softened some of their key consumer protection rules for broadband ISPs and mobile network operators, although their new light-touch approach to enforcement will only remain so long as the current COVID-19 (Coronavirus) lockdown persists.

COVID-19 – Ofcom Put the Brakes on New Broadband Regs

24th March, 2020 (8 Comments)

The UK communications and media regulator, Ofcom, has today responded to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis by, among other things, confirming that they’re suspending all existing consultation deadlines and may need to allow for delays in the implementation of new obligations.

10Mbps UK Broadband Universal Service Obligation to Go Live UPDATE3

19th March, 2020 (98 Comments)

The UK Government’s new legally-binding Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband – supplied by ISPs BT and KCOM – will tomorrow go live. The aim is to ensure that anybody living in a digitally disadvantaged area can request a “minimum” download speed of at least 10Mbps (1Mbps upload), but there are caveats.

Ofcom’s Plan to Measure the 4G UK Mobile Coverage Obligation

18th March, 2020 (4 Comments)

The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today revealed some more details about the new £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN), which aims to extend UK geographic 4G mobile coverage to 95% by the end of 2025, and explained how they will assess the compliance of O2, Vodafone, Three UK and EE (BT) with those commitments.

A girl in a protective medical mask at work. Viral disease. Epidemic.

Broadband ISP Execs Join BT CEO in Self Isolation for COVID-19

15th March, 2020 (8 Comments)

The bosses of several other UK broadband ISPs and organisations, including Gigaclear, Cityfibre and Openreach among others, have now gone into self-isolation at home for at least 7 days after meeting the CEO of BT Group, Philip Jansen, last week. Initially it was thought that this only effected the chiefs of major mobile operators.

Ofcom UK Publish 5G Auction Rules for 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz

13th March, 2020 (6 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today finalised their rules for this year’s forthcoming auction of the 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz radio spectrum bands, which hopes to boost new 5G mobile network coverage and mobile broadband speeds further into the Gigabit-capable (1000Mbps+) territory.

Ofcom Hit BT UK with £245K Fine for Overcharging on 118 Calls

12th March, 2020 (11 Comments)

Last year’s confession by BT that they had failed to immediately apply Ofcom’s new price cap on UK calls to 118 numbers (Directory Enquiries) until June 2019 (here), which resulted in several thousand of EE’s mobile customers being overcharged, has resulted in the operator being fined £245,000.

ICNIRP Impose New Limits on Radiation from 5G Mobile Handsets

11th March, 2020 (0 Comments)

The International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) has completed a review of recent scientific evidence and imposed some new limits for the protection of humans exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. The main change applies to 5G handsets operating in bands of 6GHz of more.

Operators Sign £1bn Deal for 95% Geographic UK 4G Cover by 2026

9th March, 2020 (11 Comments)

Mobile operators BT (EE), Vodafone, O2 and Three UK have today reached a final agreement on costs to support the Government’s £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) plan, which will work to extend geographic 4G mobile (mobile broadband) coverage to 95% of the UK by the end of 2025. But one aspect may have been watered down.

Network cable connected to wifi router on white background.

Plusnet, Vodafone and EE Stalled Over Automatic Compensation

26th February, 2020 (17 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 (74 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 (34 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 (22 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 (3 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 (46 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.