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Articles for Category Tag - Politics

One Year Extension for UK Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme UPDATE2

14th December, 2018 (12 Comments)

The UK Government’s Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme, which offers grants worth up to £350 for rural homes and businesses that are unable to get at least a 2Mbps download speed (i.e. helps them to get a faster ISP connection installed), appears to have been extended again until the end of 2019.

Ofcom Probes UK Broadband ISP Prices and Tries to Boost Take-up

14th December, 2018 (27 Comments)

The UK telecoms regulator has today launched a new review of broadband pricing to examine whether loyal (existing) and vulnerable ISP customers are being ripped-off. On top of that they’ve also set out their final proposals for end-of-contract notification letters, which will soon also tell you about the best deals.

CBI Demands Urgent Action to Fast Track UK Gigabit Broadband

12th December, 2018 (10 Comments)

A new report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that the UK Government must take “urgent action” and “fast track [new] laws” in order to ensure the delivery of its aspiration to achieve nationwide coverage of future 5G mobile by 2027 and “full fibre” (FTTP) Gigabit broadband ISP networks by 2033.

Ofcom Move to Redefine UK Geographic Fibre Markets from 2021

11th December, 2018 (4 Comments)

Over the next few years the UK will witness a surge in alternative fibre optic (FTTP) broadband ISP networks, which means that investment and competition will vary a lot by geography. In response Ofcom has today begun consulting upon a new approach to how they set regulation and define such markets from 2021.

Welsh Government Issue Statement on Broadband Roll-out Progress

10th December, 2018 (0 Comments)

The Leader of the House and Chief Whip of the Welsh Government, Julie James AM, has this afternoon issued a statement on the progress of their state aid supported Superfast Cymru project with Openreach (BT). Sadly there’s still no word on when the contract for LOT 2 of their Phase 2 roll-out will be awarded.

O2 UK Outage Triggers Mobile Roaming and Compensation Debate

10th December, 2018 (11 Comments)

One positive outcome of last week’s O2 network outage (here) is that it has triggered a debate about whether mobile operators should introduce Automatic Compensation, like broadband ISPs will soon receive. On top of that others have called for more roaming flexibility, so users can use rival networks during downtime.

Ofcom Propose BT and KCOM to Deliver 10Mbps UK Broadband USO UPDATE

5th December, 2018 (33 Comments)

As predicted Ofcom has today proposed that BT and KCOM should be designated as the official Universal Service Providers (USP) for the Government’s new “legally binding” Universal Service Obligation (USO), which from 2020 will make it possible for those in slow speed areas to request a broadband speed of at least 10Mbps.

Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Bid for Gigabit Fibre

5th December, 2018 (0 Comments)

The North of Tyne Combined Authority has announced that it will bid for £12m of public funding from Wave 3 of the UK Government’s Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) fund, which could be used to extend “ultrafast broadband” (e.g. FTTP) ISP networks to connect “tens of thousands of local homes and businesses.”

Cityfibre Win Contract to Build Gigabit Fibre Network in Suffolk UK

5th December, 2018 (0 Comments)

Cityfibre has secured the £11.9m contract to build a new Gigabit (1Gbps+) capable “full fibre” broadband / Ethernet network in Suffolk (England), which will initially focus on connecting public sector sites across 10 towns before being expanded to reach local businesses and possibly homes. ISP MLL Telecom is also involved.

Ofcom to Target Better UK Mobile and Broadband Cover in 2019-20

3rd December, 2018 (2 Comments)

Ofcom has today launched a new consultation on their annual plan for 2019/20, which summarises all of the major work they intend to do next year (e.g. improving mobile coverage, new consumer protections, deciding which ISPs will deliver the 10Mbps USO for broadband and promoting investment in “fibre” networks etc.).

FTTH Council EU Issue Open Letter Calling for End to Fake Fibre Ads UPDATE

3rd December, 2018 (14 Comments)

The President of the FTTH Council Europe, Ronan Kelly, has published a new open letter to EU telecoms ministers, which calls on them to stop “misleading fibre advertising” by UK and EU broadband ISPs that offer hybrid fibre services (e.g. FTTC); these are often significantly slower and less reliable than “full fibre” (FTTH).

Scottish Borders Review Recommends Changes to Boost Broadband

30th November, 2018 (7 Comments)

The Scottish Borders Council has published a review examining the impact of the £8.4m in public investment that went into improving the local reach of “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+). This finds that the Openreach (BT) roll-out “possibly” delivered value for money, but there were “major problems with the quality of the coverage.”

£6.85bn for UK Broadband and 5G Infrastructure Upgrades by 2021

26th November, 2018 (0 Comments)

The Government has today published their ‘National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline’ report, which reveals the scale of public and private investment that is underway or expected to be put toward 5G mobile and broadband ISP connectivity (especially full fibre FTTP) between 2018/19 and 2020/21 (financial year).

Study – Lack of State Aid Putting Future Broadband Ambitions at Risk

22nd November, 2018 (26 Comments)

A new study from the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE), which did a systematic analysis of all of the 157 broadband measures that have been notified to the European Commission by Member States (inc. UK) between 2003 and August 2018, has warned that the current level of public funding is “insufficient“.

Rural FTTH Project from the UK Wins 2018 EU Broadband Award

20th November, 2018 (0 Comments)

Congratulations are in order after the Michaelston-y-Fedw Internet CIC (Myfi) ISP project in Wales, which built its own Gigabit capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network (here), last night won the “Innovative models of financing, business and investment” category as part of the 2018 European Broadband Awards.

Survey Doubts UK’s Ability to Rollout Full Fibre Networks by 2033

19th November, 2018 (6 Comments)

The latest ISPreview.co.uk survey of 1,860 online readers has found that the vast majority of respondents (86.8%) support the Government’s aspiration for universal coverage of ultrafast “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband ISP networks by 2033, but only 43.5% believe it’s actually achievable.

Digital Minister Supports Campaign Against Fake Fibre Adverts

17th November, 2018 (4 Comments)

The UK Government’s Digital Minister, Margot James, appears to have indirectly lent support to Cityfibre’s efforts to stop slower “hybrid fibre” (FTTC, HFC DOCSIS etc.) broadband ISPs from using the same marketing terms as significantly faster “full fibre” (FTTP) providers, which the MP agreed was “misleading advertising.“

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