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Articles for Category Tag - Politics

RBS Bank Closures Hit Areas of Weak UK Superfast Broadband Availability

5th December, 2017 (0 Comments)

Last week the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) managed to cause a storm by announcing the closure of 62 branches for 2018, although at the time the bank said online banking would still allow remote customers to access their accounts. But a new report warns of problems with broadband connectivity.

Government Consults on Changes to Soften UK Internet Snooping Law

30th November, 2017 (11 Comments)

The Home Office has launched a consultation that proposes to make a number amendments to their controversial internet snooping Investigatory Powers Act 2016, which at the end of last year ran into trouble after the CJEU found that some aspects were not compatible with EU law.

Ofcom Reveals UK Attitudes Toward Network Level Filtering by ISPs

29th November, 2017 (5 Comments)

Ofcom has published their latest report into the use of media by UK children and parents, which among other things finds that around two in five parents of children aged 3-4 (39%) or 5-15 (37%) use network-level filters on their home broadband ISP. The vast majority of those find them useful.

UK Gov Reviews the Barriers to Full Fibre Broadband and 5G Investment

28th November, 2017 (9 Comments)

The Government has today launched a new review that will examine what changes need to be made (e.g. planning, copper switch-off) in order to make the United Kingdom attractive for investment to support the rollout of new “full fibre” broadband (FTTP/H) and future 5G Mobile networks.

Government Extend UK 2Mbps Rural Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme

28th November, 2017 (6 Comments)

The UK Government’s £5 million Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme, which offers grants worth £400 (maximum) to rural households that are unable to get at least a 2Mbps broadband speed (this helps to get a faster connection installed), has been extended until the end of 2018.

Q3 2017 – UK Gov Extend Superfast Broadband to 4.65 Million Premises

28th November, 2017 (13 Comments)

The £1.6bn+ state aid supported Broadband Delivery UK project has published its latest progress update to September 2017, which confirms that it has so far helped 4,651,700 extra premises across the United Kingdom to be covered by a fixed “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+) network.

£2m to Foster Gigabit Broadband for 57 Public Buildings in Aberdeen

28th November, 2017 (1 Comment)

The Scottish Government has announced that the city of Aberdeen is to receive £2m of public funding to extend Gigabit (1Gbps) ultrafast broadband connectivity to 57 “key public buildings” (e.g. schools, health and community centres), which forms part of a regional £254m investment package.

UK ISPs React to Average Broadband Speeds in Advertising Requirement

24th November, 2017 (21 Comments)

Yesterday the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) revealed new guidance (here), which from 23rd May 2018 will require all broadband ISPs to advertise “average” speeds (a median measured at peak time) for their packages. Today we’ve published some thoughts from a cross section of providers.

UK Mobile Operators Win Appeal vs 2014 Radio Spectrum Licence Fee Hike

23rd November, 2017 (2 Comments)

The UK Court of Appeal has reversed an earlier ruling that found in favour of Ofcom’s proposed hike to annual licence fees for the 900MHz and 1800MHz (3G / 4G) radio spectrum bands, which could have resulted in price rises for consumers and less investment by Mobile Network Operators.

ASA Forces UK Broadband ISPs to Advertise AVERAGE Peak Time Speeds

23rd November, 2017 (8 Comments)

The Advertising Standards Authority has today given notice to Internet Service Providers (ISP) in the United Kingdom that, with effect from 23rd May 2018, they will expect all broadband ISPs to advertise “average” speeds (the median measured at peak time) for their headline packages.

UPDATE3 Autumn UK Budget 2017 Sees £385m for Full Fibre Broadband and 5G

22nd November, 2017 (17 Comments)

The Government’s Chancellor, Philip Hammond MP, has today given his Autumn Budget 2017 speech and committed to invest £500 million into a “range of initiatives from artificial intelligence, to 5G and full fibre broadband” (£385m for the latter two specifically). But it’s not “new” money.

UPDATE Colchester Business Deployment Wins 2017 EU Broadband Awards

22nd November, 2017 (0 Comments)

The European Commission (EC) has this week named the five winners of their annual 2017 European Broadband Awards, which saw Colchester’s 1Gbps open access passive fibre network in the UK (Essex) pick-up one of the awards for their deployment to 850 SMEs and 1,100 homes.

Government May Reject BT’s Voluntary 10Mbps UK Broadband USO Offer

20th November, 2017 (62 Comments)

Newspaper reports indicate that BT’s voluntary proposal to spend up to £600m on delivering a 10Mbps minimum broadband speed across the United Kingdom, which would implement the Government’s proposed Universal Service Obligation (USO), looks increasingly likely to be rejected.

UK Gov Trial £3000 Vouchers for Full Fibre Gigabit Business Broadband

15th November, 2017 (8 Comments)

The Government has unveiled a £2m trial that offers vouchers worth between £500 to £3,000 to help businesses in four areas around the United Kingdom to get a Gigabit (1000Mbps+) broadband service installed, which is focused on helping to extend “full fibre” (FTTP) infrastructure.

UK Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme Issues Over 10,000 Vouchers

15th November, 2017 (5 Comments)

The UK Government’s Better Broadband Subsidy Scheme, which offers grants worth up to £400 to help homes and business that are unable to access a broadband speed of at least 2Mbps, has so far issued over 10,000 voucher codes and consumed £3.1m of its budget. But it’s also about to end.

Naff Rural Broadband in England Helping to Push People into Urban Areas

13th November, 2017 (5 Comments)

The National Housing Federation has warned that a combination of factors (e.g. poor broadband, few jobs, expensive housing, closed post offices and an ageing population etc.) is contributing to a rise in the movement of people out of rural areas and into cities (especially younger people).

CEO of ISP Luminet Says UK Should Focus on Universal Gigabit Broadband

6th November, 2017 (7 Comments)

The CEO of Luminet, Sasha Williamson, has told ISPreview.co.uk as part of our new interview that the United Kingdom should focus on deploying Gigabit capable broadband networks “nationwide” and that the plan for a 10Mbps minimum download speed (USO) is “laughable in this digital age.”