Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Network access provider Openreach (BT) is in the process of facing one of the most difficult challenges with their pilot UK exchange closures – the question of how to handle situations where some consumer broadband and phone lines remain active by the final product switch-off date (i.e. they’ve not been migrated).

Openreach currently has c.5,600 UK exchanges, but only c.1,000 of these are needed to provide nationwide coverage of modern “fibre broadband” based services (FTTC, FTTP etc.) – the Openreach Handover Points (OHPs). However, the rollout of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology, combined with the retirement of copper lines and legacy services (ADSL, WLR etc.), will soon make it economically unviable to support both the old and new exchanges.

The operator has thus long since developed a gradual plan for closing the other 4,600 exchanges – known as the Exchange Exit Programme, which starts with an initial pilot of 3 exchanges (see below) and then extends to a closure of 105 “priority exchanges” by 2030 (i.e. taking place in four phases over the next 5 years), with the rest then following through the early 2030s.

As mentioned above, three pilot exchanges have already been in this process for a while, with Deddington (covers 1,200 premises) due to reach the final product switch-off on 28th November 2025. The much larger Ballyclare (9,500 premises) and Kenton Road (9,500 premises) exchanges will reach this point just two days later (aka – Network Cease Date).

Closing an exchange and migrating affected customers is a highly complex process, which typically takes around 4-7 years (depending upon the complexity of each exchange) – starting with a Stop Sell of old products and eventually ending with everything being switched off (only after this do Openreach and ISPs remove their physical kit).

So what’s the problem?

One of the expected challenges of this process has always been the question of how to deal with any consumer lines that remain active once the switch-off date is hit. This is something that is currently causing issues for Openreach’s two biggest pilot exchanges – Ballyclare and Kenton Road.

The issue was initially raised by internet and phone providers, which identified that some of their consumer customers did not yet seem to be ready or able to migrate their lines to a different exchange/service. Openreach were similarly concerned about the number of lines with no orders after their recommended last order date.

The operator has thus been busy working closely with Ofcom, the Government (DSIT) and the Office of the Telecoms Adjudicator (OTA) to find solutions. Openreach informed ISPreview that the numbers we’re talking about here would be a small proportion of those normally served by the pilot exchanges, albeit “enough to hinder the closure” (i.e. the final switch-off date may have to be pushed back a bit for some lines).

One of the obstacles is that Openreach doesn’t yet have visibility to see what kind of users theses are (they’re currently investigating that alongside retails providers), since nobody wants to disconnect customers, particularly if some of them may turn out to be classified as “vulnerable“, or part of any other high risk group.

In the meantime, Openreach have informed providers to continue with their migrations and execute any existing plans to cease customers and get to zero on the exchange(s). At the same time, the network operator is now reviewing their position with respect to potentially ceasing consumer customers after the switch-off date and is continuing to work with everyone involved to exit the pilot exchanges safely.

In addition, the operator has made their SOGEA (standalone FTTC broadband) service available on the Ballyclare exchange, and they will also continue to allow migrations to SOGEA in Kenton Road. Consumers that already have an in-flight order won’t be ceased after 1st December, but the worry above is more around those who don’t yet have an in-flight order to be transferred.

Just to be clear, business lines aren’t so lucky, with Openreach’s latest private industry briefing making clear that disconnection will be the outcome: “If a CP fails to cease and/or migrate the services by the end of 30 November 2025, any live business assets which do not have an inflight order or have not been agreed as critical life impacting services, will be ceased by Openreach from the 1 December 2025“.

The key thing to remember here is that these are Openreach’s pilot exchanges, thus the issues being faced now are exactly the sort of ones that the operator will need to tackle in the future when they come to close thousands more exchanges. Suffice to say that the goal is to learn and identify these problems so they can refine the best solutions, before starting to exit many more exchanges in the very near future (here).

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Satellite operator AST SpaceMobile, which is working with Joint Venture (SatCo) partner Vodafone to launch a space-based 4G and 5G mobile (mobile broadband) service to connect with everyday Smartphones on the ground, has announced that their first commercial BlueBird 6 spacecraft will launch on 15th December from the Satish Dhawan Space Center (India).

Just to recap. Over the past few years’ AST SpaceMobile has conducted several trials of the new platform, including via their prototype 1.5-ton BlueWalker 3 satellite (here) that orbits at an altitude of a little over 500km and features a huge 693-square-foot (64.4-square-meter) phased array antenna (here). The satellite was specifically designed for sending and receiving mobile signals between the space-based platform and regular mobile handsets.

The platform was originally developed with support from Vodafone and thus nobody was surprised to see the pair signing a long-term commercial agreement at the end of 2024 (here), which will run until at least 2034. This will support AST’s efforts toward launching a total of 100 similar satellites (BlueBirds) over the next few years (future models will be larger and more capable).

BlueBird 6 will be the first of AST SpaceMobile’s next-generation satellites, which features the largest commercial phased array in low Earth orbit at nearly 2,400 square feet. This represents a 3.5 times increase in size over BlueBirds 1-5 and supports 10 times the data capacity. Admittedly, this is also something that may be giving both radio and observational astronomers a few sleepless nights, as such things risk disrupting their research work.

Abel Avellan, Founder, Chairman and CEO of AST SpaceMobile, said:

“Our next-generation satellites will soon enable ubiquitous cellular broadband coverage direct to everyday smartphones from space. As an American company, we are proud to demonstrate U.S. leadership in space innovation while pioneering the next era of global connectivity.”

The company added that they’re now “accelerating production” with 40 satellites on track to be completed by early 2026. The company expects five orbital launches by the end of Q1 2026, with launches occurring every one to two months on average, to reach 45–60 satellites launched by the end of 2026 and support continuous coverage across the United States and select markets.

The first commercial services are still expected to launch in 2026, although it’s currently too early to say precisely how much related mobile roaming / add-on plans will cost in the UK, USA and other countries. But the new SatCo will also be going up against a similar Direct to Cell (DtC) service from Starlink (SpaceX). A number of other satellite networks are also looking to introduce similar functionality in the near future.

Members of the public will be able to watch a live broadcast on the launch day on AST SpaceMobile’s YouTube channel.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Internet access and online security provider Gigabit IQ (formerly Grayshott Gigabit) has launched a beta (test) version of its latest product – Parentline, which is described as being an AI-powered online safety assistant “designed to help parents navigate the digital world with confidence, clarity, and trusted guidance“.

The new solution, which draws its information from leading national and international safeguarding organisations, claims to provide instant support – via both voice and chat AI (in over 20 languages) – on key online safety issues including screen time, social media, gaming, harmful content, digital wellbeing, and step-by-step device safety settings.

In short, it sounds like an AI chat system that has been trained to answer questions specifically on this topic. The announcement states that more information and beta access are available at www.parentline.ai, although at present that seems to just be redirecting to a login screen and concealing the rest of the information behind first needing to part with your personal details.

As part of the rollout, Gigabit IQ are also launching the Parentline Safety Advisory Council, which brings together parents, educators and community representatives to help shape new features, advise on emerging risks and contribute to national online safety research. Council members will receive “early access to new tools and direct involvement in product development“.

Mashood Ahmad, Founder and CEO of Gigabit IQ, said:

“With children spending more time online than ever before, parents often don’t know where to turn or who to trust for guidance. As both a parent and broadband founder, I saw that online safety advice was scattered, inconsistent and often reactive. Parentline brings everything together into one place, making safety support proactive, accessible and available on demand. During this beta phase, we’re working closely with parents, safeguarding leads and partner organisations to refine Parentline ahead of its full public release.”

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Information allegedly leaked from inside broadband ISP BT (inc. EE and Plusnet) suggests that customers may in the future have to face a charge of £50 for a missed appointment, such as when the engineer turns up on time to find that the customer is not present. But the provider doesn’t currently plan to enforce this.

At present, the telecoms giant’s policy is that if an engineer (usually from Openreach) misses a customer’s scheduled appointment, or changes it with less than 24 hours’ notice, then customers will receive £31.19 for each missed appointment. This charge aligns with Ofcom’s system of Automatic Compensation. Openreach have, in recent years, also helped to reduce missed appointments by improving direct customer communications (here).

The problem is that this door swings both ways – sometimes engineers turn up to find nobody is home, which can be a costly waste of their time. According to the leak, some 10% of fibre broadband (FTTC/P/SOGEA) installs are allegedly missed on the day by customers, despite various reminders being sent.

The indication seems to be that BT are planning to get a bit tougher with this, but they won’t hit anybody with the charge itself.. yet: “The “possible” charge is being advised to encourage customers to re-book appointments if they cannot meet it. At this point we won’t be adding the charge while we work through the finer details and impact of the charges, but we do reserve the right to charge and may do so in the future,” said an allegedly internal BT email.

The policy would not actually be all that unusual for the industry. A number of internet providers already take a similar approach, and a few years back Virgin Media took plenty of flak from customers when they introduced a £25 charge for missed appointments (here). As we said back then, it’s easy to see why such a charge might be greeted negatively, particularly as some people can easily take longer than others getting to the door (e.g. disability, being on the toilet / in a shower or being at the wrong end of the garden etc.).

Part of the problem is that, after ringing the doorbell and knocking on the door, engineers are sometimes too quick to leave the premises and mark the event as a missed appointment. Sometimes a quick call to the customer’s phone and then mobile number, especially if done beforehand, is all that it would take to avoid this happening, but not always.

What’s BT’s position?

Naturally, ISPreview queried this with BT. The provider did not furnish us with a comment, but they did state that this is not a new charge and that they have always had a policy in place that if you agree to an engineer appointment slot and are not available for this, BT may raise a charge on your account. But the provider said it remained at their discretion whether to raise the charge or not.

The general home broadband T&C‘s do state that “if you need to change or cancel an appointment, you must tell us at least two working days beforehand“, although they don’t appear to explicitly state a “missed appointment fee” for customers in those general terms. No specific figure, like £50, is mentioned anywhere, but in some places there are suggestions of potentially charging a fee similar to the installation cost (note: their broadband packages currently have an upfront fee of £0).

BT told us that they are not threatening customers, but instead aim to make them aware of a potential charge if they are not available for their engineer appointment. BT added that it was in their interest to connect customers as soon as possible and avoid any delays.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

News

In a statement to the House of Commons, Minister Al Carns declared that the United Kingdom is committed to defending “every inch” of its territory, including its critical undersea networks and coastal security.

The comments came after the Russian spy ship Yantar entered UK waters earlier this week and was accused of shining lasers at military pilots. The vessel is being closely monitored by the Royal Navy, having previously been accused of attempting to map the UK’s submarine cable infrastructure,

The incident follows growing concerns about foreign interference and potential sabotage to the UK’s undersea infrastructure, which forms the backbone for the nation’s energy supplies and communications.

The parliamentary exchange was prompted by warnings from MP Nick Timothy, who outlined the escalating threats posed by Russia and China targeting subsea cables. Timothy highlighted disquieting reports suggesting Russian devices had allegedly been placed on offshore infrastructure to monitor British submarines. He went on to press the government as to why responsibility for the security of this infrastructure remains fragmented across different ministries.

Minister Carns acknowledged these past shortcomings in coordination but insisted that recent reforms had begun addressing these gaps. According to Carns, a recent review has established “very clear lines of accountability” for the security of submarine infrastructure.

The ongoing Strategic Defence Review also notably includes expanded capabilities dedicated to offshore security.

“Be in no doubt. We will defend every inch of this country and our territorial waters,” said Carns.

The security of submarine cable infrastructure has been thrust into the limelight in recent years by rising geopolitical tensions between East and West. In late 2024, cuts to cables in the Baltic Sea demonstrated the vulnerability of this critical infrastructure, as well as highlighting the threat posed by so-called ‘shadow fleets’ – state-run ships, often masquerading as commercial vessels, that are being used to evade trade sanctions and conduct surveillance and covert operations.

A report by the China Strategic Risks Institute (CSRI) examining 12 incidents between January 2021 and April 2025 found that most suspect vessels involved in undersea cable interference were linked to China or Russia.

Both Russia and China deny any involvement in state-sponsored subsea sabotage.

How is the submarine cable security landscape changing? Join our inaugural Subsea Security Summit in May 2026

Also in the news
Connected Britain Award winners 2025 announced!
Netomnia announces ‘powerful and ambitious’ rebrand ahead of Connected Britain
VodafoneThree drops Samsung, relies on Nokia and Ericsson for £2bn network upgrade

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Consumer mobile provider giffgaff, which is a virtual mobile operator (MVNO) on O2’s national 4G / 5G network that is also owned by Telefónica UK, has this afternoon finally expanded the availability of their eSIM (Embedded SIM) support to all customers – both new and existing subscribers alike.

Just to recap. The eSIM standard is an alternative to physical SIM cards, which works by essentially embedding a digital SIM into your device (Smartphone) that could – once fully implemented – make it easier and quicker to switch between operators (e.g. not having to wait for a SIM card to arrive), as well as to use additional networks alongside your main mobile plan (e.g. eSIMs for travel when abroad).

Regular readers might recall that giffgaff originally began introducing eSIM support back in 2023 (here), although this was initially only made available to existing customers and on certain devices. But so far as we can tell, both new and existing customers have now been given access to this feature.

Giffgaff Announcement

We’ve got some exciting news to share with you all today in the world of eSIM. Just like with our app, we’ve rolled out the option of getting connected with an eSIM to all members when using our website, making it easier than ever to get hold of an eSIM.

Whether you’re on Android or Apple, when you select your SIM-only mobile plan, you’ll be asked if you want to proceed with a physical SIM card or an eSIM and get connected in minutes! When starting the eSIM installation process in the app, there will be a handy self-help video coming next week to guide you through the set-up process.

Setting yourself up with an eSIM is easy as pie, too.

If you’re already a member, all you need to do is:

• Log into the giffgaff app
• Head over to Account > SIM > Replace my SIM > Switch to a new eSIM
• Follow the on-screen instructions, and voila!

If you’re a new member:

• You can start your journey on the web, or log into the giffgaff app, to create a new account
• Activate your eSIM from the app dashboard
• Follow the on-screen instructions, nice and easy

Let us know how you get on.

As usual, you’ll first need to double-check that your mobile phone is actually eSIM compatible. The easiest way to do this is by dialling *#06# into your keypad. If you then see a pop-up that includes an EID number on the screen, your device should be compatible. Credits to Kane for spotting the development.

Original article Total Telecom:Read More

Podcasts

AI is here to stay. Telecoms need to adapt, says Abhishek Sandhir, the managing director of telecommunications at Sand Technologies

By Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

The telecommunications industry sometimes gets a reputation as being slow to adapt new technologies. It’s one that Abhishek Sandhir, the managing director of Sand Technologies‘ telecommunications division, says is not wholly earned.

There’s a lag between other industries because of the investment required to fund technological transformations, Sandhir said while speaking to Beyond the Cable at Connected Britain.

Instead, telecommunications investments are focused on building new infrastructure.

“That’s why you see that lag in adopting the technology because the focus is on maintaining the lead compared to the competitors,” he said. “That only comes with investment in the current way of thinking. That’s what we’re trying to change.”

Sandhir also said his job is partly to raise awareness of technological options that can help telecoms increase revenue and customer experience.

Regarding telecoms that resist AI transformations, Sandhir said they’ll likely eventually perish.

Listen to this episode on Spotify!

“You have to be at the forefront,” he said, adding that lots of telcos now want to be known as “techcos.”

“While saying it is one thing, it can only happen with adoption,” Sandhir said. “And that’s why you see a lot of consolidation and a lot of (merger and acquisition) activity. Because the boundaries of a telcos original abilities, they are fading away.”

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Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Alternative broadband provider and UK ISP Truespeed, which is in the process of merging with County Broadband to create a single full fibre operator covering 177,000 premises (RFS) and 41,000 customers (here), has announced that existing CEO James Lowther is to be replaced by the company’s current CCO, Nelson Missier, by the end of this year.

At present Truespeed is mostly focused upon serving rural premises in parts of Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, although in the past year or so they’ve had to deal with the same challenges (i.e. rising build costs, high interest rates and competition) as many other network operators. In response there have been some job cuts, a build slowdown and greater focus on commercialisation (here and here).

The company’s current Chairman, Clarke Osborne, said they were “very fortunate that Nelson Missier, a senior member of the Truespeed Executive team, has the experience, capability and motivation to step seamlessly into the role of CEO“. Meanwhile, James said it would be “an emotional day when I leave Truespeed“, before adding that he will be “delighted to be passing the baton to Nelson“.

Nelson Missier said:

“I would like to thank James for leading us to a strong position with significant customer and financial growth over the last 4 years; he has been pivotal to scaling up Truespeed from a start-up in the Southwest to a fast-growing company with a strong, collaborative culture and best-in-class capabilities. We wish him the very best in his next adventure.

I am excited to lead the business as we continue to deliver truly better broadband to our customers in the Southwest & East of England. With a strong challenger brand, an exceptional product, and a committed team behind me, I look forward to growing Truespeed’s customer base and profitability.”

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The Government’s UK Space Agency has announced a £6.9 million investment in next generation satellite communications technology, which will be distributed between five UK-led projects through the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme.

The projects themselves represent a mix of different technologies, some of which relate to satellite refuelling and others of which delve more into developing 5G based Non-Terrestrial Networks or advancing optical (laser) links for data transfer.

The relatively small funding boost comes ahead of the ESA Ministerial Council in Bremen on 26-27th November, where the Government will negotiate the UK’s investment into the future of Europe’s space ambitions, with a focus on economic growth and national security. Evaluation shows that every £1 invested in ESA returns £7.49 in direct benefits to the UK economy.

Space Minister, Liz Lloyd, said:

“Space technology and especially satellites, are essential to our daily lives. From the sat nav in your car to your mobile phone, from weather forecasts to your online banking – space is where it all happens.

By backing our UK sector, we’re not only cementing our position as a European space leader – we’re creating high-skilled jobs, attracting investment, and ensuring space technologies can connect communities to the space-enabled services they need.”

The government has previously allocated the UK Space Agency a budget of £2.8 billion up to 2029/30.

The Five Projects

➤ Orbit Fab will deliver the Advancing Satcom Technology with Refuelling and Logistics (ASTRAL) project with a total UK funding of up to £2.9 million. The contract for the first stage of the mission, worth £1.3 million, has now been awarded by ESA. This mission will prove the capability to refuel electric propulsion satellites using UK-developed technology, ensuring satellites can remain in orbit for longer or can manoeuvre away from threats.

➤ Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall will lead the AGILE: Antenna Ground Interface and LunaNet Equipment project, supported by £1.6 million in funding. Amidst the growing number of lunar missions, this project will produce an interface unit that can be installed in global antennas to communicate with spacecraft using the internationally recognised LunaNet specification. This will allow missions to seamlessly connect to ground infrastructure, improving mission success rates.

➤ Vicinity Technologies will receive £1.19 million for its 5G NTN-based Satellite Access Networks project. The team will design and develop a versatile 5G Non-Terrestrial Network regenerative payload system and user terminals, including the entire software stack for both space and ground segments. This technology will support uninterrupted and scalable internet services globally, from hard-to-reach areas to smart cities.

➤ Archangel Lightworks, working with the support of Eutelsat will advance optical communications through the Space Optical Link Integration Study (SOLIS) project, funded with £356,000. This study, delivered under ESA’s Sunrise programme, will investigate use cases for deploying Free Space Optical Communications technology within Eutelsat’s OneWeb LEO global network.

➤ Inmarsat Navigation Ventures Ltd (Viasat UK) will receive £881,000 for the International Virtual Satellite Operators Network (Phase 2) project. This initiative will develop a service that enables governments to plan, procure, manage and monitor satellite communications services from Viasat and other providers, ensuring secure and coherent management of critical communications.

Original article ISPreview UK:Read More

Mobile operator VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) has revealed that 8,000 mast sites have now been upgraded to implement their new Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN). This is one of the first big benefits of the recent merger (here and here) – allowing customers to roam across both networks at no extra cost (whichever one provides the best signal).

As previously reported, it could take a total of 8 years to fully complete the roll-out of these upgrades (it will be 95% complete after 6 years). The deployment is thus initially being strategically focused on areas of the country that will gain the most benefit from it (i.e. those with a poor 4G or 5G signal from one or the other operator).

The fact they’ve gone from 600 sites in August 2025 to 8,000 now means that they’re on course to hit or possibly even exceed their original target of 9,000 sites by the end of the first year of VodafoneThree being formed (March 2026).

Andrea Dona, Chief Network Officer, VodafoneThree said:

“I’m incredibly proud that we’ve reached another significant milestone in our mission to build the UK’s best network.

The team have been working extremely hard to deliver this world-leading project, bringing the Vodafone and Three networks together to unlock significant benefits for customers across the UK.

Today, more than 21 million customers in over 8,000 locations can connect to the best available coverage at no extra cost, with many now enjoying 4G and 5G where it wasn’t previously available, and faster speeds overall.

However this is just the beginning, so I’m even more excited to see what we can deliver together over the coming years.”

The merged company ultimately also aims to reach 99% UK population coverage of their 5G Standalone (5G SA) network by 2030 and then 99.96% by 2034, while also pushing fixed wireless access (mobile home broadband) to 82% of households by 2030. But we’d much prefer to see figures for geographic coverage.