Ofcom pledges to stamp out unfair mobile, broadband and TV practices
Telecoms watchdog Ofcom has launched a new set of guidelines for broadband, phone and TV companies as it pledges to stamp out unfair practices in the industry.
Broadband
Former Tory leadership contender Hancock backs Johnson to be next PM
Boris Johnson’s hopes of winning the Tory leadership race have been given a boost after former rival Matt Hancock backed him to be the next prime minister.
Fault hits Vodafone’s mobile data and broadband
Vodafone is working to fix a fault which has affected some customers’ access to its mobile data and broadband services.
Radar technology helps speed up broadband upgrade
Special technology is being used for the first time to speed up deployment of fibre-to-premises broadband in a city where an entire network is being upgraded.
Utilities customers ‘should be compensated after being overcharged by £24.1bn’
Consumers should be compensated after being overcharged for their utilities by more than £20 billion due to regulator errors, Citizens Advice says.
Huawei asks court to rule US security law is unconstitutional
Chinese tech giant Huawei has filed a motion in a US court challenging the constitutionality of a law that limits its sales of telecoms equipment, the latest action in an ongoing clash with Washington.
TalkTalk losses narrow as households switch to fibre
Broadband provider TalkTalk has been persuading existing customers to switch to its faster, more expensive, fibre broadband service, helping to reduce its losses, the company said.
First rural schools selected in rollout of full fibre broadband
More than 30 schools in rural areas have been identified as among the first to receive full fibre broadband.
SpaceX delays launch of internet satellites
SpaceX has postponed the launch of its satellites designed to beam internet coverage from space down to Earth until next week, in order to carry out software updates and additional checks.
Taoiseach challenged on broadband plan by 12-year-old coding enthusiast
A schoolgirl from Co Mayo has challenged the Taoiseach over the Government’s National Broadband Plan.
Telecoms firms to be forced to tell customers about better deals
Broadband, TV, mobile and home phone companies will have to tell customers when their contract is coming to an end and show them the best deals available under new rules unveiled by Ofcom.
BT hikes ultra-fast broadband targets and maintains divi amid falling earnings
Telecoms giant BT has ramped up targets for the roll-out of ultra-fast broadband as it kept shareholder dividend payouts unchanged despite falling sales and earnings.
Broadband speeds up by almost 20% across the UK
Average broadband speeds received by UK households have risen by almost 20% in the last year, Ofcom has reported.
Thousands of new homes could miss out on ultrafast broadband, Openreach warns
Developers are being urged to ensure that people do not miss out on ultrafast, full fibre broadband when they are buying new properties.
TalkTalk shamed as best and worst telecoms customer service revealed
TalkTalk has been shamed for the quality of its broadband customer service in industry-wide figures released by Ofcom.
Fibre-optic broadband to be rolled out across the NHS, Health Secretary says
All hospitals and GPs will soon have fibre-optic broadband access to help them “unlock the full potential of technology”, the Health Secretary has said.
Scots have low trust in day-to-day banking services, study suggests
Fewer than four in 10 people in Scotland trust day-to-day banking services, according to new research.
Fibre broadband investment expected to boost Scots economy by almost £3 billion
Every pound invested in fibre broadband in Scotland returns nearly £12 to the Scottish economy, according to a study.
Openreach on track for ultrafast broadband milestone
Openreach is on track to give access to ultrafast broadband to three million homes and businesses by the end of next year, the company has announced.
Largest broadband providers still failing to impress customers – survey
Customers of the largest broadband providers are the most likely to be getting a bad deal, a survey suggests.
A glimpse inside Virgin Media’s secret life-size home for broadband testing
Virgin Media has built two large life-size houses inside a warehouse located in High Wycombe where it tests its latest broadband technology.
Virgin Media launches Intelligent WiFi to improve broadband reach
Virgin Media has rolled out an update to its latest router that improves the reach of broadband around the home.
Broadband customers must now be told minimum speeds at point of sale
Broadband customers must be told the minimum and peak time speeds they will receive before they sign a contract under new protections coming into force on Friday.
North-east councillor defends investment in region’s broadband
A politician has defended investment in internet coverage in his area after a report was critical of web speeds.
First Aberdeen homes connected to new fibre broadband
The first homes in Aberdeen have been connected to a new fibre broadband network.
Aberdeen road to shut for four days during Openreach works
Residents in the west of Aberdeen are facing traffic disruption as communications firm Openreach prepares to carry out work in the area.
Section of Aberdeen road to shut for broadband works
A section of an Aberdeen road is to close for broadband work to be carried out.
Broadband blackspots remain despite upgrade options
Rural Scotland and Wales remain the worst areas in the country for average broadband connection speeds, but parts of central London and Kent also struggle, new research from consumer group Which? suggests.
Call for broadband provider to avoid repeat of service loss in Aberdeen
Councillors have urged a telecoms giant to make sure there is no repeat of disruption which left thousands of homes without internet.
TV and broadband package customers ‘facing £700 loyalty penalties’
Householders who sign up to combined TV and broadband packages are being hit with loyalty penalties of up to almost £700 a year, a consumer watchdog has warned.