VodafoneThree Blocks over 2 Million UK Banking Sector Fraud Attempts | ISPreview UK

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Mobile and broadband operator VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK) has today announced that a new collaboration with the banking sector has helped to block more than 2 million fraud attempts since August 2025. The trial is said to have resulted in a 25% increase in banking scam messages being blocked on the mobile giant’s UK network.

In short, the operator initially began working with Barclays, the Mobile Ecosystem Forum and the Cyber Defence Alliance on a new trial process (Proof of Concept), which was intended to help block fraudulent SMS (text) messages before they reached banking customers while ensuring legitimate bank communications still get through.

The new process saw the partners help to build bespoke rules into VodafoneThree’s existing SMS firewall. This intelligence can differentiate between fraudulent SMS content and legitimate communications from banks to their customers. The trial has since expanded to include The Co-operative Bank, now part of the Coventry Building Society, and TSB.

Recent malicious SMS messages focus on impersonating banks and asking customers to share their personal or financial information urgently via scam phone numbers or phishing links included in the messages.

Rachel Andrews, Director of Corporate Security and Fraud, VodafoneThree, said:

“Preventing fraud on our network and protecting trust in the UK’s digital economy is a huge priority. With fraud now accounting for 44% of all crime[3], no single organisation can tackle it alone. We’re working closely with banks, government, law enforcement, and industry partners to stay ahead, evolving our capabilities as quickly as fraudsters change their tactics. What’s clear is that we need to innovate as well, scaling new solutions like this is crucial in making the UK one of the toughest places in the world for fraudsters to operate.”

Customers and members of the public should always try to report any suspicious messages or voice calls to the industry’s dedicated 7726 SPAM reporting link, either by clicking on the SPAM icon or forwarding to 7726 at no extra cost. VodafoneThree’s existing scam prevention tools blocked 139+ million fraudulent SMS in 2025 alone.

VOXI Expands 5G Ready Mobile Social Tariff to Physical UK SIM Cards Offline | ISPreview UK

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Contract-free UK mobile network operator VOXI, a brand of Vodafone (VodafoneThree), has today expanded their cheaper £10 VOXI For Nowsocial tariff”. Previously only available online via their website, the tariff will now also be offered as a physical SIM through local councils and housing teams, support charities, and prison resettlement programmes.

The tariff itself offers unlimited 5G or 4G data (mobile broadband), calls and texts for just £10 a month to anyone receiving benefits (not just the under 25s). But this only lasts for up to 6 months and after that they’ll switch you over to their standard £10 a month plan (20GB of data), where you’ll still have access to “Endless” Social Media as well as “Endless” calls, texts and the flexibility to change, pause, or cancel at any time.

Vodafone’s charity partner, the Good Things Foundation, will also distribute the SIMs through a selection of its community hubs as part of a new pilot.

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs & Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree, said:

“Social tariffs play a vital role in ensuring that everyone can access the opportunities that connectivity enables, but too many people either don’t know they exist or face barriers to accessing them. By making VOXI For Now available through trusted local partners as a physical SIM, we’re bringing affordable connectivity directly into communities – helping people get online quickly and simply when they need to.”

Minister for Digital Economy, Liz Lloyd, said:

“Being connected is crucial for finding work, accessing essential services, and staying in touch with family and friends. That’s why efforts like VOXI’s expansion of its social tariff are so important. Making affordable connectivity easier to access helps break down barriers and ensure more people can get connected when it matters most.”

To get VOXI For Now, you need to be receiving one of the following government benefits: Jobseeker’s allowance, Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Disability allowance, Personal independence payment or Pension Credit (‘Verification Evidence’).

England v Mexico Caused Surge in Early Morning UK Internet Traffic | ISPreview UK

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Last night’s FIFA World Cup 2026 last-16 match between England and Mexico, which saw us walk away with the win after 3 goals (Mexico scored 2), caused an abnormal increase in broadband and mobile traffic across the small hours of the morning as many people stayed awake to watch the event.

The high-stakes match at the Estadio Azteca (stadium) was originally scheduled to kick off at 1am this morning, but ended up being delayed by an hour due to severe thunderstorms and lightning in the Mexico City area. Matches that take place outside of normal working hours don’t usually tend to move the fixed broadband traffic dials all that much because people usually tune-in via traditional TV signals.

On the other hand. The 2am to 4am time window is a particularly unusual one for a match like this because it’s a time when we’d normally expect internet traffic to be in a fairly smooth free fall toward its lowest point of the day at around 5am. After that, traffic levels usually start to pick up as people gradually begin waking up for work and the usual daily routine.

Data from the London Internet Exchange (LINX), which handles a large chunk of UK and global traffic through their switches via around 900+ members (ISPs, mobile and CDN providers etc.), showed that the small hours of Monday morning still had a decline towards the usual daily low. But it’s also clear that traffic was quite a bit above normal for the 2am to 4am window and even showed some notable peaks. You can see how this morning compared with prior days below.

NOTE: LINX doesn’t provide a complete overview of the internet traffic flow from all ISPs, but they do give a useful indication of how much extra traffic is flowing around vs normal conditions.

LINX Traffic Between 3rd July to 6th July 2026 (9am)

LINX-UK-Network-Traffic-3rd-to-6th-July-2026

Take note that internet providers use sophisticated Content Delivery Networks (CDN) and systems to help manage load from events like this, which caches popular content closer in their network to end-users (i.e. improves performance without adding much strain to external links). But the levels seen this morning, against a background of generally low network load, probably wouldn’t have caused any providers much concern.

At present we only have data from LINX, but we’re hoping to get some additional reports from various broadband and mobile providers this week and will add their feedback below. But in general, given the time period, the biggest impacts for fixed broadband usually come from streaming platforms like ITVX, while mobile traffic is generally boosted via social media engagement (most mobile devices will be connecting via WiFi at home, so will also harness fixed broadband).

Study Claims 1 in 5 Londoners Might be “Overpaying” for Broadband | ISPreview UK

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A new study of 2,000 UK adults, which was conducted in May 2026 by UK ISP CommunityFibre, has claimed that more than half of Londoners (51%) are currently tied into a contract or subscription they believe is too expensive, while one in five say their broadband “costs more than they would like“.

The survey goes on to highlight how, among those unhappy with their broadband, 17% said the service or quality was not as good as promised and 11% cite poor customer service as a key reason for dissatisfaction. Despite this, some 33% say they are put off switching “because it feels like too much hassle“. The new One Touch Switching (OTS) system has made this a lot easier, so such views may now be out of date with reality.

NOTE: CommunityFibre is backed by Warburg Pincus LLC, DTCP, Railpen and NDIF, and its lenders, including JP Morgan and Barclays etc. The provider, which has built their full fibre network to cover 1.4m homes (inc. 185k businesses within 200 metres of their network) and aims to cover over 2m premises by 2028-2029 (here), is currently also home to 450,000 customers (May 2026).

The research also found that 62% of Londoners are unsure exactly how much they spend on contracts and subscriptions each month, while 25% are actively looking for cheaper alternatives. Finally, some 54% would prefer to combine services such as broadband, mobile and TV if it helped them save money, while 29% are currently looking for a cheaper broadband deal and one in five are seeking a better mobile phone contract.

Peter Rampling, CCO at Community Fibre, said:

“It’s obvious that people want the best value, service and transparency from their broadband provider. Yet many don’t realise they have a choice beyond the traditional national providers.

Broadband Independents’ Day is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on providers like Community Fibre, delivering exceptional service and value to households and businesses in the capital.

At Community Fibre, we’re proud to offer London’s fastest and best full fibre broadband network and we strive to make it as affordable as possible, to keep London online.”

Naturally CommunityFibre, which is one of the City’s cheaper but also fastest broadband providers (speeds up to 5Gbps), has a vested interest in this survey and so its results should be taken with a pinch of salt. The survey is also unclear on what portion of all those it questioned actually lived in London (it merely defines them as being “UK adults“), which would tend to suggest that the London side of the sample could be fairly small (the smaller the sample, the less reliable it is)

On the issue of “overpaying,” it’s important to remember that price alone isn’t the only deciding factor and consumers also tend to consider other aspects, such as service and support quality or value-added extras (some features may not be found on rivals). Not to mention that if your current provider has continued to deliver a good service and the features you want, then you’re less likely to consider switching.

Lest we forget that customers of bigger providers may alternatively try haggling for a lower price, or could have even been offered a lower price automatically, to stay with their existing ISP (Retentions – Tips for Cutting Your Broadband Bill). But your mileage from haggling may vary and not all providers do it.

Take note that end-of-contract notifications system arguably makes existing customers much more likely to try haggling, rather than switch, unless they’re unhappy with their ISP’s performance. Finally, those on state benefits (Universal Credit etc.) often also have the option of taking a cheaper Social Tariff – see our Quick Guide to UK Social Tariffs, which tend to start as low as £12-£15 per month (CommunityFibre has one of the cheapest tariffs in the market).

Sky UK Acquires ITV’s Media and Entertainment Divisions to Boost Streaming | ISPreview UK

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Broadband and media giant Sky UK (Comcast) has this morning confirmed that they’ve “agreed terms” to acquire ITV’s broadcasting business, specifically the company’s Media and Entertainment divisions, which include both their free-to-air TV channels and the ITV X video streaming service for a total consideration of up to £1.6bn (£1.2bn of which is cash).

The deal, which was first rumour last year, reflects the fact that the traditional TV broadcasting business is currently coming under immense pressure from both a rise in the use of video streaming services (Netflix, Prime [Amazon], YouTube, Disney+ etc.) and the future switch-off of digital terrestrial TV services – expected to occur in 2034 or 2044 (licences that support DTTV are already due to expire in 2034) – in favour of streaming TV channels over broadband.

NOTE: ITV already reaches around 40 million people every week and serves more than 16.5 million monthly digital users. Combined with Sky, the business will account for around 20% of all in-home viewing in the UK, second only to the BBC and ahead of YouTube.

Suffice to say that consolidation and innovation like this may help to balance against that, although such a sale will see the pair controlling around 70% of the UK’s TV advertising market. Such a situation might normally raise a few regulatory red flags, but the rise in competition from streaming services does tend to change that dynamic and ITV did previously forecast that its ad revenues would be 9% lower in the last quarter of 2025 (i.e. Sky’s deal might now be viewed as more of a rescue).

Otherwise, following completion, ITV channels and ITVX will remain free-to-air, with their public service broadcasting commitments continuing to be met, while Sky will continue to be the home of entertainment, sport, and connectivity (mobile and broadband etc.).

The new agreement will also see Sky enter into a £2.1bn content supply agreement over 5 years with ITV Studios upon completion of the deal (ITV Studios itself is not part of Sky’s acquisition). Programming acquired under the agreement will not count towards ITV independent production quotas, helping to ensure continued opportunities for independent producers across the UK.

Dana Strong (CBE), Sky Group CEO, said:

“This is a defining moment for British media and an opportunity to build a stronger future for two of the UK’s most loved and trusted brands. We have huge respect for the transformation the ITV team has delivered, particularly its successful move into streaming through ITVX, which has brought fantastic British content to millions of viewers across the UK.

Bringing Sky and ITV Media & Entertainment together combines the very best of free-to-air television, pay TV and streaming, ensuring viewers across the UK continue to enjoy outstanding British programming in a rapidly changing world.

ITV will remain a public service broadcaster at the heart of British life, and we’re excited about the future we can build together.”

Carolyn McCall (DBE), CEO of ITV plc, said:

“ITV has successfully evolved in a rapidly changing media landscape – launching, and scaling, ITVX and developing ITV Studios into a major force in the global content market. This transaction builds on that momentum to deliver clear, tangible value for shareholders.

At the same time, through the commitments made by Sky, the combined ITV M&E / Sky business will continue to deliver everything about ITV that our viewers and advertisers love and value and our people are hugely proud of – making programmes that reflect and shape society, bringing people together for shared experiences and having the quality, diversity and plurality that are the hallmarks of our contribution to the UK’s creative industries. In addition, all of ITV’s PSB commitments, including regional and national news, are safeguarded under the terms of the Channel 3 Licences until 2034, which Sky is acquiring as part of the Transaction.

I am also confident that Sky will be a strong and responsible custodian of ITV M&E, building on its heritage while investing in its future and safeguarding the qualities that make ITV so valued by viewers, advertisers and the UK’s creative industries.”

Both sides clearly hope that the combined business will have the resources and technology capabilities to compete more effectively in today’s modern streaming focused market, while also delivering approximately £200m in annual cost synergies (on a run-rate basis) by the end of the third year after closing; most of that will come from efficiencies in marketing, technology platforms and non-UK content. But first they’ll need to get all of this past the regulators.

The news follows shortly after Sky’s parent, Comcast, announced its intention to separate their media and technology businesses into public companies through a “tax-free spin-off” of NBCUniversal and Sky (here). The move will create two companies – Comcast and NBCUniversal (existing Comcast shareholders will own shares in both companies).

NBCUniversal will become a global media and entertainment company, consisting of Universal’s film and television studios, NBC and Telemundo networks, Peacock, Bravo and Sky’s UK and European media business (inc. Sky Broadband and Sky Mobile etc.).

Council Tell Openreach to Remove External UK Broadband Boxes from Homes | ISPreview UK

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The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (CBMDC) in West Yorkshire has told UK broadband and phone operator Openreach (BT) to remove their external wall boxes (CSP) from homes within the World Heritage Site area of the city, such as those around the Saltaire UNESCO area and possibly others. Such boxes are usually installed as part of copper and fibre deployments.

According to locals in the affected area (special credit to ISPreview readers Danny and Chris for the tip), residents recently began reporting that men dressed as Openreach engineers had been dropping letters into homes where they’d previously installed the wall boxes (these are better known as ‘Customer Service Points‘ – CSP).

The letters state that Bradford City Council recently advised Openreach that, during local customer installations of their new copper and full fibre (FTTP) broadband services, the operator had installed a CSP “on the front elevation of your propertyAs you may be aware, Saltaire is a designated World Heritage Site, and properties within this area are classified as listed buildings. Bradford City Council have asked, given this is a heritage site, that the apparatus [pictured above] needs to be removed from the outside of the building.”

The notice goes on to state that Openreach would then install a “smaller” and more “discrete internal box” within impacted homes. A copy of the letter can be found below (article continues below) and promptly caused some residents to question whether it was legitimate or not via local Facebook groups.

Picture of Openreach’s Letter to Local Homes

Openreach letter to Bradford homes in UNESCO areas

A spokesperson for Openreach told ISPreview:

“The letter is genuine, we’re dropping all properties with an external CSP within the World Heritage Site area with a view to changing the install, so it has a small internal CSP. The plan is to give them all a letter and follow up in person to try and arrange appointments.”

The good news is that the perhaps mildly embarrassing episode will be corrected free of charge by the operator, although arranging all that work to take place across local homes is naturally a bit of a choir and one that may put some unexpected short-term pressures on local engineering resources.

Otherwise, it’s not the first time that we’ve seen network operators being asked to shift a piece of their infrastructure in protected areas, although only very rarely have we ever seen this take place across multiple homes at the same time (it normally occurs due to singular incidents).

UK Wireless Internet Services Providers Association Set to Close Down | ISPreview UK

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The UK Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (UKWISPA), which has been the official trade body for wireless broadband ISPs, Wi-Fi hotspot providers and associated networks for the past 11 years, has announced that it is being “wound-up” and its operations transferred to an as yet unnamed “new entity“.

However, the Founder and Chairman of UKWISPA, David Burns, has previously indicated that the “international success of Wireless Coverage and WISDM” (the latter is a mapping system for wireless broadband networks) meant that he could not “commit the amount of time and energy needed to help drive forward” the UK organisation.

The Chairman had initially proposed an alternative solution, which would have seen a “refreshed team” take UKWISPA forward and delivered “closer collaboration” with the Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA). But David added that “certain members” recently “rejected” that proposal and have subsequently proposed to “create a new organisation to replace UKWISPA as we know it“, which is the idea that will now be taken forward.

In short, UKWISPA is being “wound-up” in favour of the new entity, which we currently know nothing about. The full statement can be read below.

Statement from UKWISPA’s Chairman to Members

The UK Wireless Internet Services Providers Association was formed eleven years ago, and we have had an amazing journey together! Together, we have seen the industry grow and have elevated our status as an important piece of the UK broadband landscape.

However, as outlined in October last year, and reaffirmed in our Spring Members Meeting in London, the international success of Wireless Coverage and WISDM means that I cannot commit the amount of time and energy needed to help drive forward UKWISPA.

As previously set out, I proposed an orderly transition to a refreshed team to take UKWISPA forward, which also included closer collaboration with INCA. It remains my firm belief that it is in the best interests of the FWA and wider independent broadband provider sector to actively encourage investment in more high-quality gigabit blended fibre and wireless networks. This was a key element of my proposals put to members this year, and I was committed to investing my time and money towards that goal until the Autumn Members Meeting.

However, despite the support from Members in the consultation survey in May 2026, at the last Member Consultation call on 4 th June 2026, it became clear that certain members of the UKWISPA Advisory Board rejected my proposals to evolve the current UKWISPA and have subsequently proposed to create a new organisation to replace UKWISPA as we know it.

It is therefore with a very heavy heart that I am announcing that we are accepting this proposal and The UK Wireless Internet Services Providers Association will be wound-up and we will transfer operations to the new entity. All trading and operations have therefore now ceased pending handover to the new entity.

The new organisation has a very similar mission to support the interests of the UK FWA market, and they would like to invite you to transfer your membership to them.

Due to GDPR constraints, we cannot simply give the new organisation personal contact details, but we are providing details about your organisation’s membership status and renewal dates, and we do encourage you to opt-in to membership.

Please can you send an email to ukwispa@ukwispa.org confirming that you are happy to be contacted about membership.

I’m sure that the team behind new UKWISPA will be familiar to you already and I know they will be delighted to work with you, and we wish them every success in so doing, namely; Ian Bushrod, Sharon McDermott, Tim Porter, Steve Temple, Trevor Cook, Jenny Gillwald, Oli Stockman, Hal Ponton and George Taylor.

Finally, I would like to thank you for being with me on this journey for the past eleven- years. We have seen tremendous change in the industry and we have had both happy times, and sadness where members have passed.

It has been my privilege to work with you and Dilya and I are immensely proud of the organisation we have built.

We wish you every success in the future and hope our paths cross again.

Kindest regards

David Burns

Founder – UKWISPA

Sky’s NOW TV Retires Support for Older UK Boxes and Smartphones | ISPreview UK

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Sky has confirmed that their sibling NOW (NOW TV) video streaming platform and broadband service will soon stop working on several older TV set-top-boxes, as well as various older Apple iOS based Smartphones and tablets. The changes will start to be felt from mid-July 2026 onwards.

Nothing lasts forever and over time it’s fairly common for older TV devices to eventually lose support. This is usually partly because the hardware can no longer keep up as software and codecs evolve, as well as being due to the wider economic or security considerations of putting development time into kit that hasn’t been sold for years etc.

Due to this it’s been revealed that, from 3rd August 2026, several NOW TV and Roku boxes (NOW’s older set-top-boxes were all based off Roku’s kit) will no longer work with the Roku app (i.e. the boxes and other apps may still work, but NOW’s app won’t). The devices affected include the NOW TV Smart Box (4500SK), Roku Streaming Stick 3500X and Roku box models 2700X, 2710X and 2720X.

The above change largely reflects Roku’s own decision to end support for its older devices, although customers who have the NOW TV Black Box (model 4200SK) will continue to be supported. But it’s not only older set-top-boxes that are about to lose NOW App support.

According to CordBusters, several older iOS-based devices, including anything that only supports iOS 15 or older (i.e. Apple iPhones older than the iPhone 7, as well as the iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 4 or older), will similarly find that the NOW App stops working for them from mid-July 2026. Apple dropped support for this hardware when it released iOS 16 and the NOW App will soon need at least iOS 16 to run.

The new cyber frontline beneath the sea: Why subsea resilience must be built from day one | Total Telecom

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Contributed Article

By Ferris Adi, Chief Information Security Officer, Trans Americas Fiber System

Subsea cables have long been viewed as physical infrastructure, fiber on the ocean floor, landing stations, and cable ships. That view is no longer sufficient. Today’s subsea systems are defined less by steel and fiber, and more by the digital operating ecosystem that surrounds them. As these environments become more automated, remotely managed, and vendor-integrated, they are quietly transforming into critical cyber systems, and expanding the attack surface in ways many organizations have yet to fully recognize.

The risk has shifted, but the narrative hasn’t

Public discussion still focuses on physical risks: anchor dragging, fishing activity, and geopolitical disruption. These threats remain real and visible.

But the more immediate risk is less visible, and more scalable: What happens if the systems used to operate, monitor, or restore subsea infrastructure are compromised? In modern environments, the cable itself is no longer the most vulnerable point. The management plane is.

From passive asset to digital ecosystem

A subsea system is no longer a single asset. It is an interconnected service model that includes:

  • Network operations platforms and control systems
  • Vendor access and remote support pathways
  • Identity, privileged access, and monitoring infrastructure
  • Cloud-connected services and customer platforms
  • Restoration, assurance, and operational workflows

This ecosystem drives performance, but it also defines the attack surface. A compromise in any one of these layers can escalate quickly from a technical issue into an operational, regulatory, or customer-impacting event.

The hidden critical layer: The management plane

The most important systems in subsea cybersecurity are often the least visible to executives. The management plane governs how infrastructure is configured, accessed, monitored, and restored. If compromised, it provides attackers not just with disruption capability, but with the ability to operate the network itself.

This risk is amplified in environments with:

  • Heavy reliance on vendor support
  • Weak identity controls or shared credentials
  • Limited segmentation between IT, OT, and operational systems
  • Unmonitored or poorly governed remote access

If the management plane is not secured, resilience is largely theoretical.

Why geographic diversity is not enough

The subsea industry has historically defined resilience through route and bare metal servers in a 1+1 config for the NMS, multiple paths, landings, and restoration options. That assumption no longer holds in a cyber context. Cyber threats are not constrained by geography. A globally distributed network can still fail in a correlated way if it shares:

  • Identity vulnerabilities
  • Common vendor access models
  • Centralized management dependencies
  • Untested recovery processes

Geographic diversity reduces physical risk. It does not address systemic cyber risk. True resilience requires design diversity, access control, and operational discipline.

The greenfield advantage, and responsibility

New subsea programs have a rare opportunity: the ability to build security before operations begin. This is the point where decisions are most impactful—and least expensive to implement. Organizations that succeed treat cybersecurity as a core design function, embedding it into:

  • Architecture: Segmentation, controlled access pathways, separation of operational and corporate environments
  • Supplier models: Clearly defined access controls, accountability, and oversight
  • Operational readiness: Logging, monitoring, and validated recovery capabilities
  • Emergency access: Structured, time-bound, and auditable “break-glass” processes

If these controls are not built early, they become significantly harder, and often incomplete, once operations are underway.

Supplier risk is now an operational risk

Subsea infrastructure depends on specialized suppliers. That dependency is unavoidable. What must change is how it is governed. Supplier assurance can no longer sit within procurement processes alone. It must be operationalized daily, through:

  • Controlled and monitored remote access
  • Session visibility and auditability
  • Defined roles in incident response and recovery
  • Clear ownership and accountability

If a supplier is critical to restoring service, they must be part of the resilience model before an incident, not during it.

Resilience is defined under pressure

The true test of subsea cybersecurity is not policy; it is behavior during disruption.

Marine repair events illustrate this clearly. Under pressure:

  • Access controls are often relaxed
  • External actors are introduced
  • Decisions are accelerated
  • Standard processes are bypassed

These conditions increase cyber risk at precisely the moment when operational dependency is highest.

Leading operators recognize that repair windows are also cyber events, and plan accordingly, with predefined access controls, approval mechanisms, and validation processes.  Resilience is not theoretical. It is controlled execution under stress.

From compliance to operational readiness

Cybersecurity frameworks provide structure but they do not guarantee resilience.

Resilient organizations are defined by their ability to:

  • Detect meaningful anomalies across identity, access, and management systems
  • Make informed decisions quickly under pressure
  • Coordinate effectively across internal teams and suppliers
  • Restore services with confidence, and evidence

The shift required is from control presence to operational confidence.

The board-level question that matters

Executives do not need detailed technical expertise, but they do need clarity. The most important question is not whether controls exist, but whether they work when needed.

“If a critical management system or supplier access path were compromised today, how quickly would we know, and how confidently could we restore service?”

This question forces alignment across governance, technology, operations, and supplier management. It also exposes the difference between compliance and resilience.

The next decade will raise the stakes

Subsea infrastructure is becoming increasingly strategic and increasingly contested.

It underpins:

  • Cloud and hyperscale platforms
  • Financial and digital economies
  • Government communications and national security
  • AI-driven workloads and global data exchange

At the same time, advances in AI, automation, and supply chain complexity will accelerate both attacker capability and operational dependency.

Technology alone will not determine the outcome. The differentiator will be governance and operational discipline.

Redefining the asset

The future of subsea cybersecurity will not be secured by protecting the cable alone. It will be secured by protecting the operating model around it, identity, access, vendors, monitoring systems, and recovery processes. Subsea infrastructure has always connected continents. But in a digital-first world, the real challenge is no longer connectivity.

It is trust. And trust, in this context, is built on one thing: Proven resilience before it is needed.


The submarine cable industry is evolving rapidly. Join the industry in discussion at Submarine Networks EMEA 2027

The post The new cyber frontline beneath the sea: Why subsea resilience must be built from day one appeared first on Total Telecom.

Major Broadband Outage in Liverpool After Contractor Cuts Key Cables | ISPreview UK

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Broadband and Ethernet customers across northern parts of Liverpool (Merseyside) – primarily the L31 (Maghull) and surrounding areas – in England are today suffering connectivity problems after a third-party contractor, which may have been working for the waterboard, dug through a large underground cable right next to the local BT Maghull exchange.

The situation appears to have started yesterday and is currently still ongoing. ISPreview contacted Openreach about the situation earlier this morning, but we have so far received no response. However, details sent to impacted communications providers do confirm a few things, such as that third-party contractors working for a utility company on a sewer excavation “damaged multiple fibre cables” near the exchange.

The resultant outage has hit both copper and fibre optic based broadband connections, as well as high-capacity Ethernet (leased line) services – the latter includes some circuits supporting Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). In total around 3,000 end customers are known to be impacted, but this is expected to rise as not everybody has reported in yet.

Engineers currently appear to be swarming the area, although complex repairs like this, which involve damage across “multiple ducts” and an “unstable” excavation side (that will have to be made safe first), will take a lot of time. Some cables also “cannot be pulled through” and will need more extensive repair.

As a result of this it’s hard to know precisely when the situation will be fully resolved and a solid fix time (estimate) may not emerge until the weekend.