Brits hit with above-inflation price increases for unreliable broadband

Consumer champion Which? has found that Brits are being hit with above-inflation price increases for their broadband while suffering from unreliable services.

According to the research – which gathered responses from nearly 4,000 broadband customers – 53 percent of respondents had experienced issues such as slow speeds, connection dropouts, outages, and router problems.

The problems were widespread across all broadband providers, with only marginal differences...

5 July 2023 | Broadband

Ofcom launches BT investigation after emergency calls disruption

Ofcom has launched an investigation into BT following a national issue that disrupted national emergency services calls on June 25th.

On that day, individuals across the country were unable to connect with emergency services by dialling 999, as advised by the police, fire, and ambulance departments. Instead, they were instructed to call alternative numbers such as the non-emergency 101 line.

According to Ofcom's regulations, BT and other service providers are obligated...

28 June 2023 | Networks

Uswitch: Ofcom’s missed ‘One Touch Switch’ deadline costs Brits £1.85B

Uswitch claims that Ofcom’s failure to enforce its ‘One Touch Switch’ deadline will cost 11 million broadband customers in the UK a total of £1.85 billion per year in overpayments.

The research was released on the same day that Ofcom's One Touch Switch, a new broadband standard designed to make switching providers easier, was due to come into effect. Earlier this month, Telecoms reported that the deadline was likely to be missed.

Ernest Doku, Telecoms Expert at...

3 April 2023 | Broadband

Ofcom’s easy broadband switching process set for delay

A deadline for broadband providers to implement Ofcom’s new easy switching process is likely to be missed.

The ‘One Touch Switch’ process intends to make it easier for customers to switch their broadband provider.

Research from Uswitch found that over a third (36%) of broadband customers have never switched their provider. Many households could be missing out on savings which could help ease cost-of-living pressures.

“As broadband customers across the...

24 March 2023 | Broadband

Ofcom to make over 6 GHz of mmWave spectrum available

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced that it will make over 6 GHz of mmWave spectrum available.

The spectrum will span the 26 GHz (24.25-27.5 GHz) and 40 GHz (40.5 GHz-43.5 GHz) bands and deliver large increases in speeds and capacity.

Tony Eigen, VP of Marketing at Baicells, said: “Many countries, including the US, are already seeing the clear performance benefits of mmWave. Data from Ookla in the US revealed mmWave is achieving extraordinary speeds - almost...

14 March 2023 | 5G

Ofcom launches review into mid-contract price rises

Ofcom has launched a review into whether mid-contract price rises by telcos give customers sufficient certainty about their finances.

The cost-of-living crisis has made budgeting more important than ever as households feel the squeeze and many get pushed into financial difficulties.

In the UK, telcos are free to include a clause in their agreements that allow for inflation-linked price rises mid-contract. Some providers guarantee not to increase their prices mid-contract...

9 February 2023 | 5G

Ofcom politely asks ISPs not to raise broadband prices

British telecoms regulator Ofcom has given a polite notice to ISPs not to raise their broadband prices.

Self-inflicted economic chaos aside, the UK is – like many countries – in the grips of a cost-of-living crisis. Inflation is expected to hit 11 percent in October and food inflation is at the highest rate ever recorded.

Overall, the hit to UK household spending power is the biggest for at least 30 years.

Most companies are under strain from higher running...

29 September 2022 | Broadband

British telecoms regulator Ofcom revokes RT’s broadcast license

Ofcom has revoked the broadcast license of Russian state news outlet RT “with immediate effect”.

UK broadcast laws require impartiality. Ofcom has 29 ongoing investigations into RT’s coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over concerns that it’s being used to push Kremlin propaganda.

“We consider the volume and potentially serious nature of the issues raised within such a short period to be of great concern – especially given RT’s compliance history,...

18 March 2022 | Legislation & Government

Ofcom announces ‘One Touch Switch’ to simplify changing broadband providers

Ofcom has announced a new “One Touch Switch” initiative to simplify the broadband switching process for consumers.

Telecom providers are among the most notorious businesses for bumping out-of-contract prices for consumers. They are especially predatory on older customers who are less likely to seek better deals.

Here’s just one example of a current package that over doubles in price:

Legislation introduced on 15 February 2020 mandates that broadband,...

28 September 2021 | Broadband

Ofcom fines BT £42,500 over inaccurate information

BT Tower

UK communications regulator Ofcom has fined BT £42,500 for providing “inaccurate information” in response to an information request regarding EE’s broadband service.

The information was intended to help the regulator estimate the number of premises that would be potentially eligible to receive a 10Mbps+ broadband service under the new Universal Service Obligation (USO), which went live in March 2020.

Ofcom published the data as part of its 2019 ‘Connected...

30 July 2021 | Telecoms