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Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

Ofcom 2022 Study – Average UK Broadband ISP Speeds Hit 59.4Mbps

21st October, 2022 (13 Comments)

Ofcom’s 2022 study of fixed line home broadband ISP speeds has reported that the average (median) UK download rate has risen from 50.4Mbps last year to 59.4Mbps now (uploads went from 9.8Mbps to 10.7Mbps). But the performance gap between rural and urban areas has “widened” (unsurprising with so much urban FTTP build).

woman customer complaints call center vector illustration eps 10

Ofcom Name Shell Energy as UK ISP with Most Complaints in Q2 2022

18th October, 2022 (6 Comments)

Ofcom’s latest Q2 2022 survey of UK consumer complaints has named ISP Shell Energy as attracting the most moans for both fixed line broadband and landline phone services, while BT (BTMobile) did the same for Pay Monthly mobile services and Virgin Media (VMO2) were on the naughty step for Pay TV.

Labour Party Promises Mandatory Social Broadband ISP Tariffs

13th October, 2022 (40 Comments)

The UK Labour Party has proposed a new policy that would, if they won the next election, see them introduce a mandatory “industry-wide” social tariff for cheaper broadband (available to those on benefits). On top of that, they would also stop mid-contract price hikes by ISPs and reduce early termination charges for contract leavers.

New Survey Finds Frustration with UK Broadband ISP Speeds

11th October, 2022 (20 Comments)

A new Opinium survey of 2,000 UK adults, which was commissioned by Uswitch, has found that 25% of respondents “regularly fail” to receive the broadband internet speeds they pay for and 7% claim to never get the promised performance. But 42% also admit to not knowing what speed their package is supposed to deliver.

Ofcom Autumn 2022 Study – UK Gigabit Broadband Hits 68% Cover

7th October, 2022 (14 Comments)

Ofcom’s autumn 2022 report into fixed broadband and mobile coverage has found that “full fibre” (FTTP) now reaches 37% of the UK, while 20.2 million homes (68%) are within reach of a gigabit-capable network and 48-64% of premises can now get outdoor 5G coverage by at least one operator.

Ofcom Investigates EE UK Over Clarity of Contract Information UPDATE

4th October, 2022 (16 Comments)

The UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has today opened a new investigation into mobile and broadband provider EE, which relates to a concern that the operator may have “failed to comply” with rules that require them to provide new customers with clear and simple contract information before they sign-up to a new deal.

Ofcom Asks Broadband ISPs to Halt Price Hikes and Offer Social Tariffs

29th September, 2022 (21 Comments)

Ofcom has revealed that 29% of UK households (8 million) – double last year’s 15% – are still having problems paying their phone, broadband and TV bills. In response, they’ve called on major ISPs to reconsider annual price hikes and ordered TalkTalk, Shell Energy, EE, Plusnet and Vodafone to introduce “social tariffs as soon as possible“.

BT and Vodafone UK Reiterate Desire to Make Netflix etc. Pay

26th September, 2022 (28 Comments)

The Net Neutrality debate (i.e. protecting the open internet from abuse by UK broadband ISPs and mobile operators) reared its head again today after BT and Vodafone both put their names to a new statement by the European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ENTO), which was signed by 16 telcos’ CEOs.

speed broadband meter on grey background uk by 123rf

Ofcom UK Confirm Small Bundles Tweak to Broadband Speed Code

21st September, 2022 (11 Comments)

Ofcom has confirmed that they will update their 2019 voluntary Code of Practice for Broadband ISP Speeds, which among other things will extend the current “Right to Exit” (i.e. when an ISP fails to correct a speed problem) so that it applies to more aspects of a service bundle. The changes will go live on 21st December 2022.

Government Hints at Climbdown Over UK Online Safety Bill

21st September, 2022 (26 Comments)

The UK Government’s new Culture Secretary, Michelle Donelan, has signalled that the mess of complex and confusing legislation that is the Online Safety Bill (OSB), which seeks to tackle “harmful” internet content (i.e. via website blocks by broadband ISPs, fines and other sanctions), is likely to be softened before it returns to parliament.

Encrypted Computer Data by 123rf ID104712693

New UK Telecoms and Internet Security Code to Go Live in October

30th August, 2022 (2 Comments)

The UK Government has announced that network providers (e.g. broadband ISPs and mobile operators) will become subject to new regulations – under the Telecommunications (Security) Act – from 1st Oct 2022, which aside from restricting the use of Huawei, will also impose changes to make networks safer from cyberattack.

A Quick Guide to UK Social Tariffs – Get Broadband from £12 – UPDATE Aug 2026

29th August, 2022 (0 Comments)

The cost-of-living crisis is having a horrific impact on the UK and forcing many households into poverty, including those that would have previously been considered secure. But the good news is that a growing number of home broadband ISPs and mobile operators have launched a range of cheaper “social tariffs“.

Ofcom Finds Sky UK Breached Rules on Contract Notifications UPDATE

19th August, 2022 (23 Comments)

A long-running investigation by the UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has today concluded that Sky (Sky TV, Sky Broadband etc.) broke consumer protection rules by failing to send end-of-contract notifications to their satellite based Pay TV customers.

Pricing and cost of uk home services by 123rf

Gov Make it Easier to Verify Eligibility for Cheap Broadband Social Tariffs

15th August, 2022 (12 Comments)

The UK Government has moved to encourage wider adoption of cheaper broadband “Social Tariffs” – usually only available to those taking certain state benefits – by launching a new system that makes it easier for Internet Service Providers (ISP) to confirm the eligibility of their customers for such plans.

MPs Back Bill Designed to Tackle Controversial UK Telecoms Poles

9th August, 2022 (56 Comments)

A small group of MPs have given their backing to a new Private Members Bill (PMB), which would make it mandatory for UK operators building full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP networks to initiate a local consultation when deploying new telecommunications infrastructure in residential areas (e.g. telecoms poles).

Ofcom Must Improve Protection Measures for EU Mobile Roaming

8th August, 2022 (31 Comments)

A new MSE report has called on Ofcom to improve consumer protection measures for mobile roaming when within the EU, which follows after the organisation’s research highlighted that consumers are still at risk of being caught out by unexpected roaming costs. But operators aren’t helping by adopting different definitions of a “day“.

1 in 7 UK Broadband, Mobile and Mortgage Users Hit by Loyalty Penalty UPDATE

1st August, 2022 (15 Comments)

A new “nationally representative” Opinium survey 3,087 UK adults with a mobile, broadband ISP, or mortgage contract, which was commissioned by Citizens Advice, has found that 1-in-7 customers are still paying their providers a “loyalty penalty” (i.e. paying more than new customers) despite cost-of-living crisis.