MS3 and Brsk Face More Protests Against UK Broadband Poles
Alternative network operators MS3 and Brsk are separately facing more public protests against their use of wood poles for the deployment of new gigabit-speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP networks, this time in Hull (East Yorkshire) and St Helens (Merseyside), respectively. Poles are popular because they’re quick and cost-effective to build (trenching is significantly more expensive), can be deployed in areas where there may be no space or access agreement to safely put or share...
FiberLocator extends network planning platform to include UK fibre data
FiberLocator, the US’s most prominent fibre data platform, has announced the addition of data on UK fibre providers to its extensive database, which already holds the fibre footprint and route maps of 1000+ carriers, more than 5 million connected buildings, and 6,000 data centres. FiberLocator provides carriers, mobile operators, towercos and data centre operators with the most comprehensive, accurate, and timely fibre data available. For decades it has been the United States’ leading resource...
Taiwan’s largest telco launches Germany subsidiary
News The company says the launch makes it “the only telecom operator in Taiwan with overseas branches and the most comprehensive global network deployment” Taiwanese telco Chunghwa Telecom has this week launched its first European subsidiary in Frankfurt, Germany. The expansion marks the company’s first entry into the European market, adding to its existing operations in the US and Asia. The company plans to collaborate with local partners and use its telecommunications and ICT expertise...
EE launches smartphone guidance for children
News The guidance warns against children’s extensive use of smartphones This week, EE has published age-specific guidelines for smartphone usage, aimed at better protecting children’s digital wellbeing. The move comes in response to growing concerns among parents about the effects of screen time, online safety, and the overall impact of digital devices on children. “We have a responsibility with EE as the UK’s best mobile network to respond to concerns about screen time, online safety and...
Full Fibre Builder and UK Broadband ISP toob Launch Reward Scheme
Hampshire-based alternative network operator and gigabit broadband ISP toob, which is deploying a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network – and also sharing some of CityFibre’s infrastructure – across parts of South England (Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Sussex), has today joined with Buyapowa to launch a new rewards programme. The new programme is essentially a Refer a Friend scheme, albeit one that will be delivered via the Buyapowa platform and can be “used by anyone to recommend the toob...
Virgin Media and Nexfibre Add 11,000 Homes to FTTP in Huddersfield
Network operator nexfibre, which shares some of their parentage with UK broadband ISP partner Virgin Media (O2), have announced that they’ve added 11,000 more homes in the large West Yorkshire (England) town of Huddersfield to the coverage of their new 2Gbps speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP / XGS-PON) broadband network. As indicated above, Huddersfield was already well covered by Virgin Media’s existing gigabit-capable broadband network, although this previously excluded a big chunk on the...
GoFibre Grows UK FTTP Broadband Coverage to 115,000 Premises
Edinburgh-based UK alternative network ISP GoFibre (BorderLink) has revealed that their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network now covers 115,000 rural premises (RFS) across the North of England and Scotland, which is up from 105,600 premises on 17th June 2024. One of the latest locations to benefit from this is the Angus town of Forfar. The news was revealed as GoFibre welcomed the MP for Angus and Perthshire Glens, Dave Doogan, to witness the “near completion” of its full fibre...
Coastguard’s emergency network gets an upgrade from Telent
Press Release A £175 million communications network connecting 163 remote radio sites across 11,000 miles of UK coastline is now operational ensuring His Majesty’s (HM) Coastguard’s effective frontline emergency response continues for thousands of distress calls from the UK’s waters. Stretching from the Shetland Islands to the Isles of Scilly, it is one of the UK’s largest private broadband networks, with technology partner Telent helping to install 1,220km of new infrastructure. The first...
Streetwave Prep Largest Mobile Network Coverage Survey in UK History
Network analyst firm Streetwave is working with the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) to conduct what they’re called the “largest mobile coverage survey ever conducted in the UK“. This uses bin lorries to survey the coverage and speed of 4G and 5G mobile (broadband) networks across 33 West Midlands (England) and Wales councils. The use of bin collections to map mobile network coverage and data performance recently become quite popular (here, here, here,...
Sky UK Warn of Fake Premium Rate Call Sites Targeting Customers
Sky UK (Sky Broadband, Sky TV etc.) has warned customers of their services to be aware of “scam” websites that operate by “manipulating Google results or using deceptive ads” to target people looking for Sky’s support. Such sites are designed to “mislead customers” into calling premium rate numbers instead of the correct ones. According to Sky, these “fraudulent sites“, some of which may adopt a similar style to Sky’s own website in an effort to “pose as Sky customer service“, direct users to...