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Articles for Category Tag - USO

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UK Ranks 8th in 2020 EU Broadband Connectivity Progress Study

12th June, 2020 (6 Comments)

The European Commission has today published their annual 2020 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which reveals how the UK’s fixed line broadband ISP and mobile networks compare with the rest of the EU. Overall the UK ranks just 20th for “Connectivity” (up from 21st in 2019), but we do better in other areas.

Granahan McCourt Exits N.Ireland Superfast Broadband Project

22nd May, 2020 (3 Comments)

Northern Ireland’s long awaited £165m Project Stratum, which originally hoped to extend “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) to cover 97,000 extra premises but is now targeting “approximately” 78,500 premises, has lost one of its three potential bidders in Granahan McCourt. Only BT and Fibrus remain.

Ofcom Sets Out Funding Rules for 10Mbps UK Broadband USO

22nd May, 2020 (14 Comments)

After the fact. Ofcom has today set out the final funding regulations for their legally-binding Universal Service Obligation (USO), which went live in March (summary) – supplied by BT and KCOM – and aims to ensure that people in disadvantaged areas can request a minimum broadband speed of “at least” 10Mbps (1Mbps upload).

Ofcom – Full Fibre Broadband Grows to 3.5Million UK Premises

13th May, 2020 (25 Comments)

Ofcom has published their Spring 2020 update for UK broadband and mobile networks, which reveals that “full fibre” (FTTP) coverage has risen to 12% (up from 10% in September 2019) and the number of premises unable to get 10Mbps+ remains at 2% (608,000 premises). Geographic 4G coverage is now 67% (up from 66%).

Ofcom 2020 Study – Average UK Broadband ISP Speeds Hit 64Mb

13th May, 2020 (2 Comments)

Ofcom has published their annual report into fixed line home broadband speeds, which finds that the average download rate has risen from 54.2Mbps last year to 64Mbps now (uploads from 7.2Mbps to 14Mbps). It also examines the performance and latency of big ISPs including BT, Sky Broadband, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and others.

N.Ireland Broadband Project Appears to Scale Back Rural Focus UPDATE

8th May, 2020 (14 Comments)

Concerns are growing that Northern Ireland’s long awaited £165m Project Stratum, which originally hoped to extend “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) to cover around 97,000 extra premises, may shun many rural villages due to a decision that could see it only focus on areas with a larger population. But the project team denies this.

COVID-19 – Ofcom Delays UK Telecoms Work for 2020 to 2021

30th April, 2020 (2 Comments)

In an unsurprising development Ofcom has today published a revision of their proposed annual work plan for 2020/21, which has naturally resulted in various delays to their broadband (e.g. full fibre competition), mobile (e.g. 5G auctions) and related regulation work due to the on-going COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis.

Flaky Parliamentary Video Debates Highlight Poor Broadband

24th April, 2020 (24 Comments)

Across the UK various devolved and central parliaments have been returning to work this week in a very different way, with many connecting to hybrid public debates via live video conferencing from their own homes for the first time. But a few hiccups have helped to highlight how some areas still suffer from poor connectivity.

BBC Suggests Broadband ISP Levy to Replace UK TV Licence Fee

1st April, 2020 (172 Comments)

The BBC has given its response to the UK Government’s (DCMS) consultation on their proposal to decriminalise TV licence fee evasion, which among other things includes a suggestion that the fee could be replaced by a levy or tax on consumer broadband bills. But they are not “advocating” for that, yet.

10Mbps UK Broadband Universal Service Obligation to Go Live UPDATE3

19th March, 2020 (98 Comments)

The UK Government’s new legally-binding Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband – supplied by ISPs BT and KCOM – will tomorrow go live. The aim is to ensure that anybody living in a digitally disadvantaged area can request a “minimum” download speed of at least 10Mbps (1Mbps upload), but there are caveats.

A Curious Case of 10Mbps USO Eligibility in Existing FTTH Areas

8th February, 2020 (46 Comments)

The Government’s new 10Mbps+ Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband is due to start next month, although for some ISPs Ofcom’s approach to eligibility has created a few puzzled faces. As a result some people may live in areas covered by a 1Gbps FTTH ISP, yet still be able to request the USO.

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Ofcom Start Major Review to Boost UK Full Fibre Broadband Market

8th January, 2020 (20 Comments)

The national telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today launched their first combined Wholesale Fixed Telecoms Market Review 2021-26 (FTMR), which proposes major changes to help boost investment in “full fibre” broadband and high capacity Ethernet (leased line) services for both the residential and business connectivity markets.

Ofcom UK Propose Predictable Annual Work Plan for 2020-21

7th January, 2020 (0 Comments)

Just like clockwork the UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom, has today proposed a new annual work plan for the next year. The generalised summary covers everything from improving fairness for consumers (e.g. end-of-contract notifications), internet regulation and boosting the roll-out of faster broadband ISP and mobile services etc.

2019 H2 – UK Superfast Broadband Covers 96.5% as FTTP on 11%

6th January, 2020 (25 Comments)

The latest independent model has estimated that the H2 coverage of fixed “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+) ISP networks across the United Kingdom has risen to 96.45% (up from 96.1% in H1), while “full fibre” (FTTP) now reaches 11.01% of premises (up from 8.13%) and 59.30% can get 100Mbps+ (up from 57.5%).

Interview – Openreach on UK FTTP Rollout, Competition and Future Plans

21st December, 2019 (48 Comments)

Yesterday Openreach (BT) announced the milestone of having covered 2 million UK premises with Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband technology (here). As part of that we’ve conducted an exclusive interview with the operator’s MD for Fibre and Network Delivery, Kevin Murphy, to talk about their future fibre plans.

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Connected Nations 2019 – 3 Million UK Premises Can Get Full Fibre

20th December, 2019 (10 Comments)

Ofcom has today published their Connection Nations 2019 UK digital infrastructure report, which reveals that “full fibre” (FTTP) broadband ISP networks now cover 10% of premises (up from 6% last year) and “ultrafast” (300Mbps+) lines reach 53% (up from 49%). Sadly geographic 4G cover from all operators is unchanged at 66%.

Highlands to Switch-off ConCom Wireless Broadband Network

18th December, 2019 (0 Comments)

The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has announced that the publicly funded Connected Communities (ConCom) wireless network, which since 2005 has been bringing slow broadband speeds of up to 4Mbps to the remote rural Outer Hebrides of Scotland, is set to close in March 2020.