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

AT&T delays 500,000 FTTP builds due to fibre supply issues

AT&T has been forced to delay 500,000 of its FTTP (Fibre-to-the-Premises) builds due to an industry-wide fibre shortage.

Fibre is in high demand following a year when people were forced to appreciate the need for fast and robust connectivity. Unfortunately, the pandemic also played havoc with supply chains.

During a virtual conference, AT&T Senior Executive BP and CFO Pascal Desroches said:

"Through the second quarter, we hadn't really experienced any...

13 August 2021 | AT&T

Virgin Media will upgrade its entire UK network to full-fibre by 2028

Virgin Media has committed to upgrading its entire UK broadband network to full-fibre by 2028.

The operator’s network currently predominantly uses Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) technology but also some Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) via Radio Frequency over Glass (RFoG). The network is currently being upgraded to support the DOCSIS 3.1 standard which is due to complete by the end of this year and should handle a peak theoretical download speed of up to 10Gbps and uploads of around...

29 July 2021 | Networks

Altice takes 12.1% stake in BT due to ‘compelling’ full-fibre opportunity

French telecoms giant Altice has taken a 12.1 percent stake in BT to become the company’s largest stakeholder.

Altice, a company owned by billionaire Patrick Drahi, has established a UK subsidiary for the purposes of holding a stake in BT.

Despite acquiring such a sizable stake in BT, Altice UK says that it does not intend to make a takeover bid of the country’s largest telecoms operator.

Altice UK says its interest in BT is due to the “compelling...

10 June 2021 | Networks

CityFibre begins rollout of full-fibre connectivity in Bath with £25M investment

CityFibre, the largest independent provider of full-fibre networks, has begun rolling out connectivity in the historical city of Bath.

Homes and businesses in the old Roman city of Bath will soon have access to the modern wonder of full-fibre broadband thanks to a £25 million investment by CityFibre.

Neil Madle, CityFibre’s City Manager for Bath, said:

“Bath is a historic city most often associated with the likes of Jane Austen and its Roman Baths, but...

7 June 2021 | Networks

Openreach: Full-fibre would be ‘game-changing’ for the UK economy

A report commissioned by Openreach highlights the “game-changing” impact that full-fibre will have on various regions of the UK.

The report, conducted by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), calls full-fibre a “gamechanger” for London, the South East, South West, East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, Wales, Yorkshire & Humber, North West, and North East.

Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, said:

“Cebr’s previous research...

28 April 2021 | Networks

Ofcom updates wholesale rules to accelerate the full-fibre rollout

Telecoms regulator Ofcom has updated its wholesale rules with the aim of accelerating the full-fibre rollout.

Full-fibre broadband was a key pledge of Johnson’s government but, like most plans, was somewhat derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the UK’s successful vaccine rollout enabling a cautious roadmap to lifting lockdown restrictions, the focus is now shifting to how the country can “build back better” from a virus which dithering and chaotic policymaking...

18 March 2021 | Legislation & Government

Open and accessible networks are key as 5G and full-fibre are rolled out

Good network and customer service have never been as vital to the success of the telecoms industry as they are today. The Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting international lockdowns have meant that more people than ever before are working from home and are reliant on their telecoms providers for their livelihoods and entertainment. This also focuses the spotlight on the UK government’s goal to ensure full-fibre broadband for all by 2025, an aim that was reviewed and amended last...

23 February 2021 | Networks

MPs reckon the UK will miss even its lowered broadband and 5G targets

A parliamentary committee believes the UK will miss its broadband and 5G targets, despite revising them lower just weeks ago.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee published a report this week which said that the industry had “no genuine belief” the UK will hit its targets.

Nationwide gigabit broadband was a key pledge made on the steps of Downing Street when Prime Minister Boris Johnson took office. Initially, the government planned for nationwide...

22 December 2020 | Legislation & Government

CityFibre awards £1.5B of contracts as it speeds up full-fibre rollout

Full-fibre provider CityFibre has awarded £1.5 billion of construction contracts across 27 towns and cities.

Under current plans, more than five million premises will be covered by the rollout. All of the projects are expected to be in the build phase by summer 2021.

These are the construction partners selected by CityFibre in each town or city:

Greg Mesch, CEO at CityFibre, said: “By awarding these full-fibre network construction contracts, we can...

5 November 2020 | Networks