Home » UK ISP News Archive » Article Tag: Ofcom Regulation (1766 Posts)

Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

Old footbridge and traditional Cotswold cottages, Bibury, England, UK.

19% in Rural North West England Struggle with Internet Affordability

27th June, 2022 (4 Comments)

A recent study by researchers at Lancaster University has found that 28% of the population in rural North West England are not confident in completing key tasks online (e.g. applying for jobs) and 19% found either their PC, broadband, smartphone or mobile data unaffordable – rising to 36% among households with an income of under £20k.

Telesat-Lightspeed-Satellite-Broadband-Platform

Ofcom UK Review Telesat’s Planned LEO Satellite Broadband Network

24th June, 2022 (2 Comments)

Forget about OneWeb, Amazon (Kuiper) and Starlink (SpaceX) for a minute. The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has just received an application from Telesat for an Earth Station Network Licence that will be used to support their future “Lightspeed” constellation of ultrafast broadband satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Parliament UK Building at Dusk in London 2021

Gov Pressures UK ISPs and Mobile Operators on Cost of Living

22nd June, 2022 (54 Comments)

The UK government, which wants to be seen as at least trying to do something about the cost of living crisis, has reportedly summoned bosses from most of the major mobile and broadband providers to Downing Street next week. Seemingly in the hope of finding more ways to help those who may be struggling to pay their bills.

Ofcom – More UK Spectrum for Satellite Broadband as Starlink Expand

21st June, 2022 (0 Comments)

Ofcom has today proposed to make more spectrum available for satellite operators via the 14.25 – 14.5GHz “Ku band“, which they say would effectively “double the capacity available” and support “better broadband for more rural homes“, as well as connecting planes and ships. Separately, Starlink plan to add more UK earth stations.

Ofcom Add New Protections for UK Broadband and Mobile Users

17th June, 2022 (18 Comments)

Ofcom has reminded us that communications providers, such as those ISPs and companies offering broadband, mobile, phone and pay TV services, are today required to introduce a number of changes, including simpler contract details, more rights to exit your contract early and the introduction of an emergency video relay service.

smartphone with incoming call from unknown person

Government Sets Out New UK Penalties for Nuisance Calls and Texts UPDATE

16th June, 2022 (13 Comments)

The UK Government has today responded to an earlier consultation on their new Data Reform Bill (DRB) by, among other things, setting out how they’ll increase the financial penalties for those pestering people with nuisance calls and text (SMS) messages. But this probably won’t do much to stop calls made from outside the country.

BT Phone Box payphone booth evolution 2021

Ofcom Moves to Protect Essential UK BT and KCOM Phone Boxes

8th June, 2022 (12 Comments)

Ofcom has today introduced new rules to protect public UK phone boxes (payphones) – specifically those built by BT and KCOM – when they exist in areas with “poor mobile signals or high accident rates“. In addition, payphones will now require battery backup so that they can keep working after going digital (all-IP).

Full Fibre ISP G.Network Appoint Former Openreach MD as CEO

7th June, 2022 (3 Comments)

London-focused gigabit-broadband builder and UK ISP G.Network, which unexpectedly saw its founder and former CEO – Sasho Veselinski – exit last month due to “personal reasons” (here), has managed to grab the former Managing Director of Openreach’s Fibre and Network Delivery team, Kevin Murphy, to be its new CEO.

Five UK ISPs in Alliance to Fight for Better Service and Lower Prices

30th May, 2022 (11 Comments)

A group of five independent UK broadband ISPs – Gigabit Networks, Triangle Networks, Air Broadband, Highnet and Trunk Networks – have formed a new consortium called the ‘Rebel Alliance‘ (Lucasfilm and Star Wars might have words), which appears to be demanding better service levels and lower prices.

finger touching fiber optic on technology background

Ofcom and BT Reportedly Prep Contingency Plans for AltNet Flops UPDATE

24th May, 2022 (24 Comments)

A new newspaper report claims that “runaway inflation” is threatening to cause a “wave of bankruptcies” among the new generation of alternative full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP networks, which is said to have triggered Ofcom into drawing up contingency plans with BT for how to handle the fallout, should smaller players start to fail.

concept of wireless radio Internet. 5G mobile technologies.

Ofcom UK to Let O2 and Vodafone Use Existing Bands for 5G

20th May, 2022 (20 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, have today proposed to update certain licences held by mobile operators Vodafone and O2 (VMO2) – including for the 900MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz and 2.6GHz bands. The move is designed to enable the deployment of newer technologies, such as ultrafast 5G broadband services, into the bands.

Ofcom Spring 2022 Study – Gigabit Broadband Covers 66 Percent of UK

20th May, 2022 (16 Comments)

Ofcom’s latest Spring 2022 report into fixed broadband and mobile coverage has revealed that “full fibre” (FTTP) now reaches 33% of the UK (up from 28% in Sept 2021), while 19.3 million homes (66%) are within reach of a gigabit-capable network (up from 47%). Geographic 5G coverage has also improved.

G.Network Top 400,000 Full Fibre Premises in London as CEO Exits

19th May, 2022 (14 Comments)

Sasho Veselinski, the CEO and Co-founder of UK gigabit-broadband builder and ISP G.Network, has decided to step down from the business for personal reasons. The provider is currently investing £1bn to deploy a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across London and beyond (here).

Ofcom 2022 Study Rates Mobile and Broadband ISPs by Quality UPDATE3

18th May, 2022 (0 Comments)

Ofcom has published their 2022 survey of UK broadband ISP and mobile service quality, call waiting times, complaints and install times among the largest providers. For example, Vodafone attracted the lowest satisfaction for broadband (77%), while BT secured the highest (88%). But overall, service quality has improved since COVID-19.

BT Issues 2022 Progress Update on the UK 10Mb Broadband USO

17th May, 2022 (28 Comments)

UK ISP BT has today issued their latest biannual study into the progress they’ve made toward delivering the 10Mbps Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband, which reveals that they’ve so far built a USO connection to over 4,600 premises, with more than 2,300 further builds in progress.

Ofcom UK Propose Small Improvements to Broadband Speed Code

11th May, 2022 (14 Comments)

Ofcom has proposed to tweak their 2019 voluntary Code of Practice for Broadband ISP Speeds, which will extend the current ‘Right to Exit‘ (i.e. when an ISP fails to correct a problem with broadband speeds) to the latest definition of service bundles. It will also require FTTP and cable ISPs to provide details on observed line speeds.

KCOM Cuts Price and Makes Broadband Social Tariff More Accessible

10th May, 2022 (2 Comments)

Hull-based ISP KCOM, which serves 250,000 premises across East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire in England with their full fibre (FTTP) network, has today announced that they’re making it “easier and quicker” for struggling families to access its low-cost “Flex” social tariff by moving the application online and reducing the price.