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Articles for Category Tag - Ofcom Regulation

Ofcom Attempt to Finally Resolve BT Ethernet Overcharging Dispute

22nd June, 2015 (0 Comments)

After several years and various legal challenges the UK telecoms regulator has proposed what could be the final resolution to a long running dispute relating to BT’s overcharging for business Ethernet services, which initially required them to repay £94.8m to Sky (Sky Broadband), TalkTalk, Virgin Media, Cable & Wireless Worldwide (Vodafone) and Verizon.

Happy Easier UK Phone and Broadband ISP Switching Day – Maybe

20th June, 2015 (0 Comments)

As a little reminder, the process of switching between broadband and phone providers, specifically those who use the BT Openreach telecoms network (e.g. BT, EE, Sky Broadband and TalkTalk etc.), has today become a little easier thanks to the introduction of Ofcom’s new harmonised migration rules.

ISPs Give Mixed Reaction to Start of Easier Broadband and Phone Switching

15th June, 2015 (5 Comments)

The communications regulator will, after around five long years of development, on 20th June this week finally succeed in forcing the majority of fixed line broadband and phone providers across the United Kingdom to introduce a “simpler and more reliable” method of switching service. It should be good news, but not everybody is happy.

UPDATE Ofcom Propose Big Price Cuts for BT’s UK Wholesale Leased Lines

12th June, 2015 (2 Comments)

The national telecoms regulator has today proposed a raft of “significant real-terms price reductions” for mobile operators, broadband ISPs, public sector organisations and businesses that buy BT’s high-speed wholesale Leased Line links, which form part of a market worth £2bn across the United Kingdom.

Ofcom Probes Vodafone UK’s Billing and Complaints Handling

11th June, 2015 (0 Comments)

The national telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has launched an own-initiative investigation into Vodafone’s billing and complaints handling procedures after an unspecified number of the mobile operator’s customers in the United Kingdom made related complaints.

Ofcom Consult on BTSport Tweaks to FTTC Broadband Margin Squeeze Test

11th June, 2015 (0 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today launched a consultation on several new tweaks to the FTTC “margin squeeze” test, which is designed to keep the BT’s “fibre broadband” prices under control by forcing them to “maintain a sufficient margin between [their] wholesale and retail superfast broadband charges“.

UPDATE Ofcom – Slow Broadband Speeds Mean You Can Exit Contract Anytime

11th June, 2015 (13 Comments)

Consumers who suffer significantly slower broadband speeds than promised by their ISP will, under Ofcom’s new rules, be allowed to exit their contract at any time. But the new rules will only apply to providers that offer ADSL2+ (up to 20Mbps) or FTTC / VDSL (up to 40-80Mbps) based services (i.e. Virgin Media is excluded).

EU Regulators Find Internet Restrictions Cause Consumers to Switch ISP

10th June, 2015 (1 Comment)

The Body of European Regulators of Electronic Communications, which represents telecoms regulators from across the EU (e.g. Ofcom in the UK), has conducted a new survey to uncover consumer attitudes towards Net Neutrality. The study unsurprisingly reveals that consumers would switch ISP if a provider imposed certain limits on their access.

Ofcom Open Investigation into the Difficulty of Cancelling ISP Contracts

10th June, 2015 (9 Comments)

Communication providers (broadband, mobile, TV and phone) that make it hard for customers in the United Kingdom to cancel or switch their service have been placed under the spotlight after the national telecoms regulator, Ofcom, launched a new monitoring and enforcement programme to assess the problem.

Pro-Broadband Ofcom Begins Review of UK Satellite Radio Spectrum Use

4th June, 2015 (0 Comments)

The United Kingdom’s telecoms regulator has today signalled the start of yet another strategic review, which this time will examine the radio spectrum use of space-based science and satellite communication services. Ofcom’s review could affect the future availability of frequencies for 5G and other broadband technologies.

UPD Mobile Operator Three UK Drops No Mid-Contract Price Rise Promise

1st June, 2015 (8 Comments)

Last year saw mobile operator Three UK make a clear commitment concerning mid-contract prices rises by telling customers that the “fixed monthly recurring fee from Three will not go up in the minimum term of your contract,” but they now appear to have done a U-turn.

UPDATE Fear of New Migration Rule Drives ISP to Offer Anti-Slamming Service

1st June, 2015 (5 Comments)

Ofcom’s easier broadband and phone switching rules are due to go live later this month (20th June). However one provider, AAISP (Andrews & Arnold), is so concerned about how it might result in more cases of slamming (i.e. consumers being switched without their consent) that they’re now offering a free “anti-slamming” service.

Ofcom Confirm Auction Details for the 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz Spectrum Bands

26th May, 2015 (0 Comments)

The United Kingdom’s telecoms regulator has launched a new consultation on their proposed design for the late 2015 or early 2016 auction of radio spectrum in the 2.3GHz and 3.4GHz bands, which could be used for high-capacity Mobile Broadband connectivity (e.g. 4G). But some of the spectrum may be held back until the on-going market consolidation has settled.

BT Take Ofcom’s FTTC Margin Squeeze Test to Competition Authority

20th May, 2015 (2 Comments)

Telecoms giant BT has formally tabled an appeal with the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) against Ofcom’s new “margin squeeze” test, which is designed to keep the operators FTTC “fibre broadband” prices under control by forcing them to “maintain a sufficient margin between [their] wholesale and retail superfast broadband charges“.

UPDATE2 Ofcom Propose to Open BT Dark Fibre Optic Network to UK Rivals

15th May, 2015 (55 Comments)

In a surprise move Ofcom’s Business Connectivity Market Review (BCMR2016) has done a U-turn on its 2012 policy by proposing that rival ISPs, specifically those that provide Leased Lines, should be granted access to BT’s national Dark Fibre network (i.e. un-lit fibre optic lines that have spare capacity for coping with future demand).

Ofcom Publish 2014 Broadband, Phone, Mobile and TV Complaints Report

12th May, 2015 (1 Comment)

The communications regulator has today published their latest quarterly consumer complaints report to the end of 2014 and unsurprisingly, despite a general flatness in complaint volumes, there are still some familiar names topping the tables. We’re looking at you EE (fixed broadband and phone), Vodafone (mobile) and BT (Pay TV).

Ofcom Finds UK ISP Unicom Probably Broke its Sales and Marketing Rule

6th May, 2015 (4 Comments)

After a lengthy investigation the UK telecoms regulator has provisionally ruled that there are “reasonable grounds” for believing that Unicom (Universal Utilities) misled consumers over the sale of their fixed line telecommunications services (between the 1st March 2013 and 8th July 2014).