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Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

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Ofcom Unveils 2021 Changes to Boost UK Full Fibre Broadband UPDATE

18th March, 2021 (55 Comments)

Ofcom has today published the outcome of their Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review 2021-26 (FTMR), which sets out how various changes (Dark Fibre Access, copper retirement, regulation that varies by geographic area etc.) will be used to boost UK investment in “full fibre” broadband and high capacity Ethernet services.

Preliminary Winners of Ofcom’s UK 5G Mobile Auction Revealed

17th March, 2021 (42 Comments)

Ofcom has today revealed the winners from the “principal stage” of their latest 5G focused mobile (mobile broadband) spectrum auction for the 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz bands, which saw operators spend a total of £1.356 billion across the various bands and EE (BT) appears to have gobbled up the most (£452m).

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The New UK Telecoms Security Bill is Starting to Look a Bit Ugly

16th March, 2021 (10 Comments)

At present most of the mentions you’ll see around the UK Government’s new Telecoms Security Bill (TSB) tend to involve Huawei’s ban (here) and its impact upon FTTP broadband or 5G mobile networks, but as time goes on it’s becoming increasingly clear that the bill hides a number of other nasty surprises.

Ofcom to Review UK Net Neutrality Rules Following ISP BT Moan

14th March, 2021 (22 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has confirmed that, over the course of the next year, it will begin a review of the existing Net Neutrality rules (i.e. these ensure no serious blocking or slowing of access to legal websites or internet services by broadband ISPs and mobile operators). The move follows a call by BT for greater flexibility.

Ofcom to Start UK 5G Mobile Auction for 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz

10th March, 2021 (47 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today confirmed that their auction of the 700MHz and 3.6-3.8GHz radio spectrum bands will begin this Friday (12th March). The move should ultimately help to improve the coverage and speed of 5G mobile (mobile broadband) networks.

Work Plan for UK Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum Published

10th March, 2021 (0 Comments)

The newly established Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), which brings together several regulators (the Competition & Markets Authority, Ofcom and Information Commissioner’s Office) to help “ensure online services work well for people and businesses in the UK“, has today published their first 2021/22 work plan.

Confusion Hampers Resolution of UK Broadband ISP Complaints

9th March, 2021 (4 Comments)

A new report from UK consumer complaints handler firm Ombudsman Services (OS), which is an Ofcom approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider for UK broadband ISPs, mobile operators and energy providers, has found that many people are still confused about when and where to get unresolved complaints tackled.

Full Fibre UK ISP Hyperoptic Launch Social Broadband Tariffs

1st March, 2021 (6 Comments)

UK ISP Hyperoptic, which typically builds 1Gbps capable “full fibre” (FTTP/B) broadband networks to large residential (MDU) buildings, office blocks and some houses, has become the latest provider to launch a social style broadband tariff – called the ‘Fair Fibre Plan‘ – for people on specific means-tested benefits.

Challenge for UK ISPs as Ofcom Forces Emergency Video Relay Service UPDATE

16th February, 2021 (13 Comments)

Ofcom has today opened a further consultation on their plan to force all communications providers – seemingly including broadband ISPs that may not even provide phone services – to offer a “free” 24/7 emergency video relay service in order to help users of British Sign Language (BSL) to talk with the emergency services.

Ofcom Hits O2 UK with £10.5m Fine for Overcharging Customers

12th February, 2021 (2 Comments)

Mobile operator O2 (Telefonica UK) has this morning been hit with a fine of £10.5 million after the telecoms regulator, Ofcom, found that more than 140,000 of their customers had been “overcharged” – due to billing errors – when leaving the operator between 2011 and 2019.

O2 Study Predicts £187.7m 4G Boost for Rural UK Businesses

10th February, 2021 (9 Comments)

A new study commissioned by O2 UK has predicted that the first phase of the new £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) project with Vodafone and Three UK, which will see all three mobile operators working to build and share 222 new 4G (mobile broadband) masts (here), could increase the turnover for rural businesses by £187.7m per annum.

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Ofcom Details New UK Broadband ISP Switching Process for 2022

3rd February, 2021 (23 Comments)

As expected the UK telecoms regulator has today published detailed proposals for a new simpler “one touch” switching process for all broadband customers, which from December 2022 will make it easier for consumers to switch between ISPs on physically separate networks (e.g. Openreach’s full fibre to Cityfibre or Virgin Media etc.).

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Vodafone Attract Most UK Broadband ISP Complaints in Q3 2020

2nd February, 2021 (15 Comments)

Ofcom’s latest Q3 2020 consumer complaints report has just been published, which names UK ISP Vodafone as attracting the most gripes for home broadband, while Plusnet did the same for landline phone, Virgin Mobile were the worst for Mobile services and Virgin Media came bottom for Pay TV.

Network Provider Brsk Plans FTTP Broadband Rollout for England

1st February, 2021 (5 Comments)

A new Bath-based network operator called Brsk Limited has just cropped up with tentative plans to deploy a new “open access” Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network to UK homes and businesses, albeit initially starting in the “north of England” rather than the south, where it’s based.

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Gov Consults on New ECC Changes to Aid UK Broadband Rollout

28th January, 2021 (2 Comments)

The UK Government has launched a consultation on a series of proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Code (ECC), which aims to put right some of the problems caused by their last revision in 2017 and could thus make it quicker for broadband and 4G or 5G mobile operators to deploy their networks.

1 in 6 UK People Struggle to Afford Broadband During Lockdown

28th January, 2021 (0 Comments)

A new survey from the Citizens Advice agency has claimed that more than 1 in 6 UK adults are “struggling to afford their broadband during the third lockdown.” As a result the charity wants cheaper ISP packages to be made available for those on low-income benefits or other vulnerable groups.

O2, Three UK and Vodafone to Share 222 Rural 4G Mobile Masts

27th January, 2021 (32 Comments)

The £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) industry project made progress today after mobile operators O2, Three UK and Vodafone reached a related agreement to both build and share 222 new 4G mobile masts, which will be used to boost mobile voice and mobile broadband coverage in rural parts of the country.