Virgin Media Warns UK Broadband Users Not to Switch Routers Off at Night
Broadband ISP Virgin Media (O2) has revealed that 18% of respondents to one of their consumer surveys still “break the golden rule” by switching their Hub (router) off overnight. This might save a tiny bit of electricity, but it may also “prevent overnight software updates” (e.g. router firmware or other devices) from being applied – that could have unintended consequences. Generally speaking, network operators and other software distributors often time important software updates to be...
Introducing Elemendar
Viewpoint Elemendar is a startup that exhibited at this year’s Connected Britain, in our bigger than ever startup village! Find out more about them below 1. Tell us about your startup Elemendar is a cybersecurity startup based in the UK, co-founded by Lior Arbel and Giorgos Georgopoulos. We use advanced AI technology to help organisations stay protected from cyber threats. Our mission is to enable security leadership to make informed security decisions effortlessly. Our key products, READ and...
New Ofcom Rule on Misleading “Fibre” Terminology Puts Spotlight on Ads Watchdog
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has told ISPreview that they’re “keeping a watching brief” on how Ofcom’s recent move to clampdown on confusing uses of “fibre” terminology (here) may impact their own guidance on advertising claims. But at present, the ASA and Ofcom’s position still appear to be in some conflict. In case anybody overlooked Monday’s developments, Ofcom began enforcing new rules that only allowed broadband ISPs to use terms like “fibre” and “full-fibre” on their...
Frustration in Rural Wales as Village Suffers Poor Voneus Connectivity
Residents of the tiny Monmouthshire (Wales) village of Llangwm, which is covered by Voneus’ full fibre (FTTP) broadband ISP network, have complained about the dire state of local internet connectivity and missed medical appointments because the local service is often said to be “sporadic” and “slow“. The community, which is home to just over 400 people, sits in a very remote and rural area some 3 miles (4.8km) east of Usk. As a result of this, the village can suffer from poor mobile signals...
Wildanet Enhances UK FTTP Broadband Network Testing and Monitoring
Rural broadband ISP Wildanet has moved to improve their network testing and monitoring by adopting a solution from VIAVI, which will enable the operator to “detect and resolve any network issues quickly” on their new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) infrastructure in Cornwall and Devon (England). By the sounds of it, Wildanet intend to adopt VIAVI’s remote fibre test system, ONMSi, which will enable them to first verify the quality of its network as it is being built and then to monitor the fibre...
Brdy Offers Satellite Broadband to Bramley Homes Disconnected by Petrol Leak
Broadband satellite ISP Brdy has stepped in to help homes in the Surrey (England) village of Bramley, specifically the small number of properties that may be finding it difficult to get a working fixed-line internet connection due to the ongoing and long-running underground petrol leak in the area (here). Brdy claims that, due to the disruptions being caused by the petrol leak, “hundreds” of locals have been left “without internet as Openreach faces delays due to safety concerns about...
Broadband ISP TalkTalk Gain More Support for UK Refinancing Deal
Debt-troubled UK ISP TalkTalk has this afternoon issued a second update on their recently agreed refinancing package, which was announced on 12th August 2024 (here and here) and is said to be worth around £400m. As of today, 100% of the RCF and over 97% of bondholders have now signed up to the binding Lock-Up Agreement. The deal essentially extended the group’s debt maturities to September 2027 and buys them more time to fix the foundations, or to find a buyer for the parts of their business...
Verizon’s 4,800 job cuts will cost over $1.9 billion
News More than half of these jobs will be cut this month, with the full total to be cut by March next year, according to the operator Back in June, Verizon announced its intention to cut around 4,800 jobs as part of wider restructuring. This “voluntary separation program” would impact US-based management positions and see the company’s 105,400-strong workforce reduced by around 4.5%. This week, the initial cost of the job cutting measures has been revealed, with Verizon facing a $1.9 billion...
Meta resumes use of UK user posts to train its AI models
News The company initially received backlash back in June before an intervention from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Meta has announced that it will begin training its AI models using public content shared by users on Facebook and Instagram in the UK, having paused the training in June due to regulatory clashes. The company intends to start this process in the coming months, with customers of their platforms to be informed via in-app notification. Meta argues that the...
Gateley Global appointed by WMCA to run a High Growth Accelerator programme for 5G adoption players
The HGAP programme allows businesses to access free support from Gateley Global to overcome their barriers to growth and manage it sustainably. Those businesses that meet the eligibility criteria will be appointed a Key Account Manager (KAM) that will work with them to agree a growth ambition, baseline their current position, identify key challenges, and implement and monitor a plan for growth. The KAM from the HGAP will provide ongoing, intensive support to implement the agreed growth...