Welsh Gov Respond to Committee’s Broadband Recommendations
The Welsh Government (WG) has responded to a series of recommendations on improving broadband and phone connectivity that were made by the Welsh Parliament’s Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee (CCEIC) in August 2022 (here), albeit mostly only to parrot existing plans, positions and policies. According to Ofcom’s latest data (here), some 95% of Wales […]
Sky’s UK NOW TV Streaming Service Arrives on Google TV Devices
Customers of Sky’s NOW (NOW TV / NOW Broadband) sub-brand in the UK, which offers an alternative TV and video streaming service to Sky’s own packages and live channels, may be pleased to learn that the app has now been made available on the latest models of Google’s TV devices and Chromecast sticks. Until now […]
UK ISP LightSpeed Broadband Launch Entry Level 100Mbps Plan
Network operator and ISP LightSpeed Broadband, which is building a new Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to 200,000 premises across the East of England by the end of 2022 (rising to 1 million by the end of 2025), has introduced a cheaper entry-level 100Mbps (symmetric) plan. Previously, the provider only offered a 1Gbps plan. The new 100Mbps […]
Broadband ISP Speedtest.net Service Integrates Downdetector
Ookla has announced that they’ve begun to integrate their Downdetector service, which identifies and monitors when various popular online sites (inc. UK mobile operators and broadband ISPs) are suffering from network problems, with their popular internet connection speed testing app – Speedtest.net. The update, which adds a Downdetector tab to the app with lots of […]
T-Mobile eyes US fibre market, wants $4bn joint venture
News The mobile operator has reportedly hired Citigroup to help it find a commercial partner through which to fulfil its fibre ambitions T-Mobile’s focus when it comes to home broadband has long centred around fixed wireless access (FWA) offerings, leveraging its 4G and 5G mobile networks to provide in-home connectivity. Indeed, much like its rival Verizon, T-Mobile has found growing success in this space since rolling out its 5G network, hitting the recording its 1 millionth home internet...
IBM and Vodafone strike quantum tech partnership
Press Release IBM announced today at the IBM Quantum Summit 2022 that Vodafone Group is collaborating with IBM on quantum-safe cybersecurity, and also joining the IBM Quantum Network, which will give the company cloud access to IBM’s advanced quantum computing systems, as well as IBM’s industry-leading quantum expertise. The multinational telecommunications company will work with IBM to help validate and progress potential quantum use cases in telecommunications. As part of this collaboration,...
Italian govt mull TIM takeover to facilitate creation of single network
News The debt-laden telco issued three profit warnings last year and has continued to struggle in a price war against its local rivals This week, sources speaking to Bloomberg suggest that the Italian government is weighing its options for how to reinvigorate national operator TIM, including a potential takeover to pave the way for a single Italian broadband network. Last month, after months of turmoil all-too familiar to Italian politics, Giorgia Meloni, leader of the right-wing populist...
Roll-up or roll on?
CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE With over 100 companies now deploying fibre in the UK, the market is both fragmented and competitive. Consolidation looks inevitable. In this article, Robert Kenny of Communications Chambers explore the prospects for consolidation amongst UK fibre-deployers. After a slow start, the UK now has over 100 companies deploying fibre, and in aggregate they plan to pass 84m premises. There are only 30m premises in the country, so this suggests that the average home will be passed...
FTTP Builder Digital Infrastructure Pilots New Trenches Law Survey Service
Network operator Digital Infrastructure, which is working with ISP BeFibre to cover over 1 million UK premises with their full fibre broadband infrastructure by the end of 2027 (here), has worked with law firm Trenches Law to pilot a new surveying service that could help speed up the time to deployment. At present, Trenches Law […]
“Open access is clearly a key to nationwide fibre rollout in Germany”
INTERVIEW We had the pleasure of interviewing Wolfgang Heer, Managing Director, BUGLAS, ahead of next month’s Connected Germany, which is being held in Mainz on December 6-7 2022. Can you introduce yourself and your current role? My name is Wolfgang Heer and I have been CEO of BUGLAS (federal association for optical fiber access in Germany) for more than ten years now. BUGLAS currently consists of more than 160 enterprises deploying and operating FTTB/H-networks all over Germany, mostly on...