Broadband News Feed

Ofcom to make it easier to switch broadband providers

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:12:45 +0000

The organisation is hoping to stop consumers being moved without their consent.

Ofcom is hoping to make it easier for consumers to switch their landline and broadband provider.

The watchdog has proposed a set of measures which will also look to prevent customers from being switched without their knowledge or consent.

According to a study, 520,000 households were slammed in the 12 months to September last year, which is where they were moved over to another provider without being asked first.

Ed Richards, chief executive of Ofcom, said: "Smooth switching processes are essential to ensure that consumers can change providers with confidence. Many people think that the current systems are too difficult and unreliable which is why we have made it one of our priorities to tackle this problem."

He added that Ofcom has improved consumer information on broadband speeds and helped to enhance competition in the market.

Among the proposals for making it easier to change telecoms provider, Ofcom said that it wants switches to be verified by an independent third party in order to protect consumers.

It also wants to simplify the process so that customers are not confused by the process of switching, while ensuring that competition, choice and value for money will still remain at the forefront of the industry.

"Today’s proposals are designed to make the process easier, more reliable and safe from slamming. We believe that the proposals would improve consumers’ experience of switching and ensure that they continue to benefit from competition," Mr Richards said.

One of the main reasons why consumers look to switch providers is in search of faster broadband speeds, and last week Ofcom research found that these have risen by 22 per cent in the past 12 months.

It revealed that in November 2011, the average actual broadband speed for UK residential customers was 7.6Mbit/s, compared to 6.2Mbit/s a year earlier.

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Superfast broadband demand creates more Virgin jobs

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:58:01 +0000

Demand for superfast broadband and TiVo has led to more jobs at Virgin.

Demand for Virgin Media's superfast broadband deals and its TiVo platform has created more jobs at the firm.

These new recruits will be added to the broadband provider's workforce across the coming weeks, with the positions situated in a variety of locations throughout the UK.

The majority of the vacancies will be based in Manchester and Swansea. In total, 500 customer service positions will be based in call centres, where new workers will be trained over a period of six weeks.

These new recruits will be educated about Virgin Media's products, while being taught the skills necessary to provide exceptional customer service.

As well as this, Virgin Media is looking for 120 engineers, who will be trained as part of its apprenticeship scheme, which has now entered its fourth year after bringing 530 workers to the firm.

The programme runs for a period of one year, allowing those taking part to begin working towards the business' recognised National Vocational Qualification in Communication Technology.

It is hoped that the accreditation will lead to an improved experience for customers.

Paul Buttery, chief customer and networks officer, said: "The new jobs that we've announced today will ensure we’re meeting the increasing demand for our next generation digital products and will help our customers get the kind of service they expect from a Virgin company."

Mr Buttery noted that the investment will benefit a number of communities across the country in an effort to provide young people with a start to their careers in the tough economic climate.

The high demand for superfast broadband could be set to increase further, after a survey by Eurostat found that 83 per cent of UK residents have internet accessibility.

This figure is significantly higher than Bulgaria and Romania, where internet coverage percentages were found to be 45 per cent and 47 per cent respectively.

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BT Wi-Fi hotspots surpass 3.5m

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:30:07 +0000

BT's number of Wi-FI hotspots has surpassed 3.5 million.

BT has confirmed that its number of Wi-Fi hotspots has exceeded 3.5 million throughout Britain and Ireland.

These are free to access for the broadband provider's subscribers, who can now use the connections to use the internet on devices such as laptops and media tablets.

This latest increase means that BT's Total Broadband customers can use one of the world's largest Wi-Fi networks, with connections spread throughout the UK.

In total, there are 380,000 hotspots in London, while 25,000 are situated in Birmingham and Leeds.

Manchester subscribers can benefit from 20,000 hotspots, which is the same number as are available in Edinburgh and Sheffield, while there are 11,000 in Liverpool, Brighton, Bristol and Cardiff.

The connections can be found in a number of different locations, with many brands offering them in their properties.

Among these are Hilton, Thistle, Ramada Jarvis, Starbucks and Welcome Break. Train commuters can also benefit from the connections, as they can be accessed at Network Rail stations around Britain.

BT home broadband customers can also use the provider's new network on their Blackberry or Android devices, thanks to the BT FON app.

John Petter, managing director, consumer, at BT, stated that the network will bring BT broadband to millions of customers.

Mr Petter also commented on the company's new app, explaining: "Our free apps for the Apple, Android and now Blackberry devices make getting online even easier and have already proved a huge hit with over 900,000 downloads."

News of BT's new Wi-Fi milestone comes after the company announced an agreement with Sainsbury's that will see 1,000 of the supermarket's stores and depots gain enhanced network capacity.

As part of the deal, BT is deploying a combination of products, such as Ethernet and advanced copper broadband, which will help to increase the speed of the business' customer transactions.

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TalkTalk launches govt-backed 'active choice' parental controls

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:13:08 +0000

TalkTalk is the first broadband provider to give customers a choice regarding parental controls

TalkTalk has become the first broadband provider to offer new customers an active choice about to using parental controls.

From the end of February, new consumers who subscribe to TalkTalk will be asked if they wish to activate HomeSafe to assist them in controlling access to the information that their children see on the internet.

An active choice on parental controls was one of the recommendations of the government's Bailey Review, which explored the commercialisation of children.

HomeSafe is Britain's only network level parental control service, meaning that every computer or device using one of the firm's connections will be protected sufficiently, including laptops, PCs and gaming consoles.

Since its implementation, 270,000 customers have activated the controls, which can be managed through TalkTalk's My Account service online.

Suicide and self-harm websites have been found to be the content that is most commonly blocked by users of HomeSafe

Dido Harding, chief executive of TalkTalk, hopes that the firm's decision to give all new customers a choice of whether to activate the parental controls will help them to realise the support that is available to them.

Ms Harding went on to say: "Creating a safer online environment for children is similar to car safety for children in the 1970s where everyone needs to play a part, like with the Green Cross Code, education, seat belt wearing and car seat use."

However, she also conceded that no technical solution can solve the problem of internet security on its own.

The safety of children online has also been prioritised by Orange, which offers parental controls to all of its subscribers for free.

Its software enables people to monitor the online activity of their children with more ease, and child-specific options can be set for particular web pages.

Additionally, time limits can be imposed to reduce children's internet use

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Broadband Support Scheme extended in Wales

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:44:49 +0000

Wales' Broadband Support Scheme has been extended by business minister Edwina Hart.

The Broadband Support Scheme in Wales will be extended, allowing more people to enjoy broadband deals, business minister Edwina Hart has confirmed.

Providing grants of up to £1,000 to residents, businesses and third sector organisations, the initiative aims to provide internet connections to people located within broadband notspots.

It was initially launched in 2010 and was poised to end during this financial year, but Ms Hart has now decided to extend the scheme, enabling more people to benefit from using internet connections.

The initiative will operate alongside the Next Generation Broadband for Wales project, which aims to provide high speed services to homes and businesses that the commercial market does not reach.

So far, the Broadband Support Scheme has seen over 2,000 applications approved, while 232 are currently being assessed.

Included in the approved submissions is funding for 16 community schemes, which account for a financial pledge of £1,662,709 and cover 918 properties.

Business minister Edwina Hart stated: "Terminating the Broadband Support Scheme in March 2012 could leave a potential gap in our ability to support people with immediate broadband issues.

"I am therefore pleased to announce we are extending the scheme to provide continuity during the early roll-out of next generation broadband and will continue to review the relevance of the Broadband Support Scheme during this period."

Ms Hart further explained that the initiative is making a significant difference to individuals, businesses and communities by allowing them to reap the benefits of the digital age.

Other regions of the UK are also striving to obtain improved broadband services, such as South Gloucestershire.

The county's council has partnered with Swindon and Wiltshire authorities to prepare for the signature of a broadband infrastructure provider.

Its efforts are being supported by the government's Broadband Delivery UK project, which will use central and local government funding to make unattractive investment areas more appealing for commercial broadband suppliers.

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BT holds trial of 'FTTP on demand' services

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:33:41 +0000

BT has held a trial of its FTTP broadband technology.

Broadband provider BT has confirmed the successful trials of its fibre to the premises (FTTP) connections in St Agnes, Cornwall.

The technology enables extra fibre to be run on demand to properties that are located within a fibre to the cabinet-enabled area (FTTC), meaning that consumers can take advantage of ultra-fast internet services.

Such connections are likely to appeal to small and medium-sized businesses that have to send and receive large amounts of data, with an excellent response recorded from those that took part in the St Angus trial.

In the past, FTTP speeds were not plausible in FTTC-enabled regions, but BT has pioneered a solution that benefits from the fibre already existing between the exchange and the street cabinet.

Such an innovation could prospectively make a significant difference to Britain's broadband industry, as FTTP services could be obtainable anywhere in BT's fibre footprint, presenting users in the future with maximum speeds of 300Mbps.

The broadband provider is looking to complete further trials of FTTP on demand this summer in an effort to make the technology commercially accessible to firms by spring next year.

Openreach chief executive Olivia Garfield said: "FTTP on demand is a significant development for Broadband Britain. Essentially, it could make our fastest speeds available wherever we deploy fibre.

"This will be welcome news for small businesses who may wish to benefit from the competitive advantage that such speeds provide."

BT will also double the speed of its standard fibre broadband this spring, enabling providers to offer speeds of up to 80Mbps to customers.

This new technology looks set to be welcomed by Britons, as a study by TP-Link has shown that 51 per cent of UK residents want quicker broadband deals.

The research also discovered that 77 per cent of the country's internet users are not content with their existing connection speed.

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Virgin Media broadband surpasses 10m homes milestone

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:08:03 +0000

Virgin Media broadband surpasses 10m homes milestone

Virgin Media's superfast broadband deal is now available in over ten million homes.

The service gives consumers access to a speed that is over thirteen times faster than the national average, with the service now obtainable in cabled areas of Bromley, Dundee, Staverton and Norton Hawkfield.

This means that Virgin Media's initiative to provide 100Mb broadband to more premises is now ahead of schedule. It was originally expected to be completed in mid-2012, but it will now be completed this spring.

Its superfast service allows people to download high quality movies in a couple of minutes and give families exceptional performance when they use multiple devices on one connection.

The increasing use of internet-enabled devices has prompted a significant upsurge in the volume of online data. This is illustrated in Virgin Media's next generation network, which is now carrying twice as much as it did two years ago.

In peak periods of internet traffic, the broadband provider's network surpasses more than three-quarters of a terabit per second. Such speeds make it possible to download enough books to fill 28 miles of shelving per minute, according to the firm.

Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: "Soon half the country will be able to get superfast 100Mb broadband from us. Reaching today’s milestone puts us ahead of schedule as we help propel the UK up the global broadband rankings."

Mr James explained that more people are now abandoning DSL services to take up superfast fibre optic alternatives.

He added: "With Virgin Media yet again confirmed as the fastest by Ofcom just last week, this along with our fantastic TiVo TV service means we have an incredible combination that lets our customers enjoy the digitally connected world to the full.."

The announcement of Virgin's latest milestone follows a service outage that affected the provider's customers last month.

Users were unable to access the internet between 17:00GMT to 20:00GMT on January 17th.

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East Riding residents urged to take part in broadband research

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:47:20 +0000

Residents and organisations in the East Riding have been urged to participate in new research conducted by their local council.

Residents and companies in the East Riding have been requested to participate in a new study that hopes to boost broadband deals in the area.

A selection of surveys have been added to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council's website, with the authority hoping that feedback from homeowners and firms will help it to identify the quality of internet services in the region.

The council's efforts are in line with the government's objective of making Britain's broadband network the greatest in Europe by 2015. It is hoped that, as a result of the research, superfast connections will be available in many locations where people are suffering from slow and unreliable services.

Residents and businesses have surveys to complete that are tailored to their individual circumstances, which are available online until autumn.

The council has also encouraged those that have already submitted information to persuade other people to take part, in order to obtain the most extensive data possible.

Councillor Jonathan Owen, the council's deputy leader and portfolio holder for performance, improvement and partnerships, said: "The provision of reliable broadband services across the whole of the East Riding is vital to ensure the area is not left behind as internet services continue to develop.

"Success depends on the ability to demonstrate that families, businesses and communities in all parts of the East Riding have a genuine need for faster and more reliable broadband."

The East Riding is not the only area that looks set to enjoy improved internet services, as Europe's largest free Wi-Fi zone has been planned for the Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea areas of London.

It comes thanks to an agreement between Westminster City Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and O2, which has made the move in the hope of enabling better connections for people ahead of the 2012 Olympics.

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UK broadband speeds increase, research shows

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:22:44 +0000

Britain's broadband speeds have increased, a study has found.

British consumers have seen the speed of their broadband increase by 22 per cent when compared to the same time last year, new figures indicate.

The average UK residential broadband speed was 7.6Mbps in November 2011, marking an increase from the 6.2Mbps figure recorded a year earlier, according to research by Ofcom.

Such a rise was attributed to the number of people moving on to use broadband deals with higher speeds, as November 2011 represented the first time that over half (58 per cent) of British residential broadband connections boasted an advertised speed of more than 10Mbps.

This marks a rise from May 2011, when 48 per cent of services offered speeds over 10Mpbs.

Despite these statistics, Ofcom found that more than four in ten broadband customers are still on packages that present 10Mbps connections or less, though many of these people are able to gain improved services from alternative providers.

The consumer watchdog also looked at the differences between internet service providers, discovering that fibre-based and cable broadband technologies give customers the fastest speeds.

As well as this, it found that Virgin Media's "up to" 50Mbps service boasted the highest average download speed of around 49Mbps.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "It is encouraging that speeds are increasing and that consumers have a real choice of broadband service.

"There is a real opportunity for consumers to look at the packages and deals in their area in order to receive the best value, speeds and performance available to them."

Mr Richards added that customers can look forward to additional increases in Britain's broadband speeds over the coming years.

Broadband is expected to become even more popular in the coming years, with research from IHS recently finding that the number of subscribers to broadband deals will rise by 60 per cent by 2015.

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Three introduces Web Cube

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:20:55 +0000

Three Mobile has unveiled its Web Cube device.

Three Mobile has introduced its new Web Cube product, which enables customers to connect as many as five devices to the internet at the same time.

The mobile broadband product is targeted at consumers who want to use Wi-Fi services in their home, but do not want to be burdened with signing up for a landline connection.

It is powered by the provider's 3G network and can be used immediately after purchase, with no complicated installation procedures. As well as this, it boasts HSPA+ technology, meaning that it can deliver speeds between 2 and 5Mbps.

Three Mobile has selected a number of key cities to test its effectiveness before availability is expanded throughout Britain.

Residents in Leeds, Glasgow and Edinburgh have been chosen for the testing, as the provider has cited them as some of the most successful areas for its mobile broadband.

The Web Cube boasts a range of up to 30 metres, meaning that homes could use the device to provide internet services for laptops, games consoles and other wireless-enabled hardware in several rooms.

Speaking on the company's official blog, Simon Kemp of Three Mobile said: "It's designed for the significant chunk of the population, especially renters and students, that have told us they want Wi-Fi at home, just without the phone line and the lengthy contract.

"We hope to be able to roll out Web Cube nationwide very soon, so if you're not in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Leeds but you're still interested, you can register your details online."

The announcement of Three Mobile's new device follows the launch of Orange's Bright Box wireless router.

It offers a signal range of up to 250 metres, and a plug-in and play setup mechanism, while two in-built antennas on the equipment use wireless N technology to deliver reliable internet connections to residents.

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Sky set to launch fibre broadband

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:38:41 +0000

Sky is to launch a fibre broadband product in April.

Sky will launch a fibre broadband product from April, which will offer download speeds of up to 40Mbps.

Entitled Sky Broadband Unlimited Fibre, the service will be charged at £20 a month with no usage caps. From its introduction, the connection will be available to roughly 30 per cent of British homes, with coverage increasing alongside BT's roll-out of fibre technology.

This new offering comes as part of a number of new changes to Sky's internet services, with the broadband provider aiming to expand its network footprint to cover 88 per cent of Britain by June 2013, giving more than one million additional homes access to its network.

The launch of Sky's public Wi-Fi service is also approaching, providing Sky Broadband Unlimited customers with free access to over 10,000 hotspots throughout Britain.

Locations offering this service include Caffe Nero, Pizza Express and Wagamama, meaning that subscribers can benefit from the company's services while on the move.

Sky also recorded significant growth in the final quarter of 2011, selling more than half a million home communications products and increasing its market share to 17 per cent, representing 3.6 million customers.

Stephen van Rooyen, managing director of Sky’s sales and marketing group, said: "This year sees a number of enhancements that will ensure we create even more choice.

"Whether it's the launch of free public Wi-Fi, extending our network into more parts of the UK, or adding fibre to our product mix, we are focused on meeting the demands of customers and on being their number one choice for home communications."

Despite Sky's latest enhancements, it still faces strong competition in the broadband market, especially as Virgin Media is set to double the speed of its broadband for four million of its customers.

This will see the provider's top speed leap from 100Mbps to 120Mbps.

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'Good superfast broadband progress' made by many counties

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:29:18 +0000

Many counties are making good progress when it comes to superfast broadband, says Ed Vaizey.

Good progress is being made by most local authorities with regard to the roll out of superfast broadband deals, the communications minister Ed Vaizey believes.

Shropshire, Telford, Wrekin, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Kent and Medway are the latest areas to have their local broadband plan consented by the government.

This means that a third of the country's 47 superfast broadband projects are now prepared to begin supplying the technology to homes and businesses in their region.

To further boost superfast broadband plans across local authorities, Ed Vaizey has confirmed potential European funding of roughly £100 million, which counties can apply for to assist with their broadband upgrades.

This amount is added to the £630 million that the government is currently investing in order to guarantee that Britain has Europe's best broadband network by 2015.

However, while many authorities have shown great progress regarding their plans for superfast broadband, there are 32 projects which are yet to have their local broadband plans approved.

There is "high confidence" that 16 of these will meet their planned timetable, while 13 of them have been regarded as "medium confidence".

Liverpool, Newcastle, Bath and their surrounding regions have been described as making "insufficient progress".

Mr Vaizey explained: "I am disappointed that a few councils seem to have slipped behind schedule. I will be seeking urgent talks with these councils to ensure they understand the need to make real progress quickly. We do not intend to continue to fund councils if they continue to fail to deliver."

Residents preparing for superfast broadband in the future could find that their services are improved by the forthcoming Windows 8 operating system.

A post by Microsoft on its Building Windows 8 blog has revealed that the new program aims to handle connections more effectively than its predecessors, with users able to manage their connections to Wi-Fi and mobile broadband networks.

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Lancashire to benefit from improved broadband

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:21:27 +0000

Up to 97 per cent of the county will have access to superfast broadband by 2014.

A deal has been agreed by Lancashire County Council which will see up to 97 per cent of the county have access to superfast broadband.

Businesses and residents will be able to enjoy speeds in excess of 30Mbps by 2014, after the local authority appointed BT as its delivery partner.

The council currently provides facilities, or has plans in place, for two-thirds of the county to access superfast broadband, with the latest deal providing a further boost.

It was also recently announced that BT was providing better access to thousands of people living in East Lancashire, with the service of up to 20Mbps being delivered through copper lines.

Public sector investment of around £32 million will be used in the project, with £10.8 million coming from Broadband Delivery UK, £16.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund and £4.7 million from Lancashire County Council.

Furthermore, small and medium sized enterprises will be helped to take advantage of the broadband facilities thanks to a separate £3 million fund which will be set up by.

Geoff Driver, leader of Lancashire County Council, said that he was determined that the region would continue to be at the forefront of this technology.

"At the very least these premises will receive access to 2Mbs. The rural area to the east of Lancaster has been designated as the first pilot for these ideas in Lancashire," he added.

Edwin Booth, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, added that superfast broadband has a "critical role" to play in increasing productivity and innovation across the county.

"We want a thriving economy here in Lancashire and this will help us to achieve it. In terms of providing the necessary infrastructure for business in the 21st century, creating this network could be as important as the construction of the canals and railways was to the Industrial Revolution," he noted.

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Welsh govt begins search for market broadband feedback

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:24:23 +0000

The Welsh government is looking to gain market feedback to assist with its next generation broadband aims.

The Welsh government is now searching for market feedback ahead of plans for next generation broadband investment in the country.

It is hoping to guarantee that all residential premises and businesses in Wales will be able to obtain the connections by 2015, with the market comments being used to identify the private sector's efforts with regard to the services.

This feedback will then be used to improve the authority's understanding of where next generation broadband investment is planned or has already been made.

A deadline for the comments has been set for February 23rd and the information will be used to establish the locations where next generation broadband deployment will be the most advantageous.

Business minister Edwina Hart said: "This review has a clear aim – to make sure our intervention area fully takes into account what the private sector is planning when it comes to next generation broadband."

Ms Hart commented that the feedback will be used to help ensure that the Welsh government is doing its utmost to help the broadband market in a way that maximises investment.

She emphasised that the government's aim of having all businesses and residents connected to next generation broadband by 2015 will assist in guaranteeing that Wales is at the forefront of the digital economy.

"The availability of robust high-speed broadband in the 21st century is essential for our businesses and residential properties in order for them to access services and the opportunities provided by digital technologies," Ms Hart added.

Broadband upgrade plans have been announced across the UK in recent months, with BT one of the latest to confirm plans to increase speeds.

The provider will invest significantly in the Greater Manchester, ensuring that over 3,800 homes and businesses in the area can benefit from its superfast connections.

This move will see the number of premises covered by its superfast network exceed 732,000.

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IT bosses should help broadband initiatives, group says

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:57:57 +0000

IT chiefs should be a key part of broadband initiatives, it has been suggested.

IT chiefs should play an integral part in council initiatives designed to improve broadband deals throughout the UK, one group has declared.

This is because these experts posses knowledge that can be used to assist counties when it comes to improving their internet services, according to Scotim, the association for IT professionals in local public services.

However, the group has maintained that more money must be handed over by Broadband Delivery UK in order for many of Britain's broadband upgrade plans to materialise.

It has investigated proposals for the technology, with the results released a new briefing entitled Rural Broadband: Superfast or Superslow.

Socitm has argued that local authorities have the power to promote or improve the economic and social well-being of their area, and believes that broadband is a fundamental part of this.

The organisation has also commented on the government's aims for minimum broadband speeds of 2Mbps to be accessible to 90 per cent of citizens by the end of 2015, explaining that such efforts will lead to a "two-speed Britain".

This will be a result of commercially supplied city dwellers benefitting from higher speeds, while ten per cent of the UK lack wired connections.

However, its briefing has urged local councils to continue working with the national broadband programme and develop it further. Socitm also believes that the re-use of existing infrastructure will be beneficial, as it will help to reduce costs.

Chris Head, author of the briefing, said: "Internet access in rural areas is especially important for jobs, education and business, particularly where transport infrastructure is not always good."

Mr Head commented that local politicians are now realising the opportunities offered by broadband.

Broadband access looks set to improve in many areas, as culture secretary Jeremy Hunt confirmed last month that ten cities in the UK will be given the opportunity to collect a portion of a £100 million financial package.

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Orange announces new Bright Box router

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:59:49 +0000

The new Bright Box router has been unveiled by Orange.

Orange has launched its new Bright Box wireless router, enabling customers to benefit from improved Wi-Fi range.

The broadband provider's move will bring a host of other benefits to its subscribers, with the technology featuring intelligent wireless that allows people to transfer all of their connected devices to the channel with minimal signal interference.

All new Orange home broadband customers will receive the router as part of their deal. Valued at £95, the appliance enables individuals to use a wireless signal range of up to 250 metres.

It also benefits from a plug-in and play setup mechanism, meaning that it can be activated in a matter of minutes, alleviating any worries about a complicated installation.

The Bright Box router has two in-built antennas that use wireless N technology to deliver dependable internet connections to homeowners.

Four 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports are also included in the router, alongside a USB connection.

The device offers a number of security features, with WPA 2 encryption technology defending consumers against online threats.

To improve their security further, subscribers can opt to create a number of multiple wireless network names with separate passwords, guaranteeing that the connection is shared in as secure manner.

Sylvain Thevenot, director of marketing and propositions at Orange Broadband, said: "We're constantly looking to evolve our home broadband offering to ensure our customers enjoy the best possible experience across multiple devices in the home - including smart phones using Wi-Fi."

Mr Thevenot continued by claiming that Orange offers the best value home broadband in the market.

Orange will hope that its new router will help to attract customers, particularly as its rival Virgin Media recently announced that its broadband speed will be doubled for roughly four million of its subscribers.

As a result of this, the broadband provider's top speed will rise from 100Mbps to 120Mbps.

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Herefordshire Council backs broadband proposal

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:53:22 +0000

Herefordshire Council has supported plans for the county's broadband network to boast higher speeds.

Herefordshire Council has offered its support to a proposal that plans to include £6 million in its 2012/13 budget in order to improve broadband deals in the county.

If confirmed, the money will be used by Borders Broadband in order to boost the connections available in both Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

Borders Broadband is a partnership between both counties and a questionnaire has been completed in the regions in order to assess opinions on local internet services, finding that 86 per cent of companies view faster broadband as being "very important".

This research found that there is a high level of dissatisfaction with the current services, with many people admitting that they want more efficient internet access.

The project is one of four UK pilots that aim to improve broadband in rural areas, as the government's minimum level of satisfactory broadband service (2Mbps) is not accessible in 23.8 per cent of Herefordshire households and 17 per cent of Gloucestershire homes.

At the moment, there is no Next Generation Access Broadband available in Herefordshire, whereas Gloucestershire only has 35 per cent coverage of the technology.

Councillor Graham Powell, broadband champion for Herefordshire, said: "The council’s investment in broadband is an investment in the long term future of Herefordshire. Broadband is the 21st century utility that has the ability to improve many facets of our everyday life and businesses need fast broadband to access global markets and global suppliers - it is not acceptable for those who live in our rural communities to be left behind."

Wiltshire Council has also conducted a survey to determine the effectiveness of local broadband connections.

Over 3,600 residents and 452 businesses participated in the study, which found that 87 per cent of residents have an internet connection in their home, although 22 per cent claimed that their internet service was never adequate.

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KC plans faster broadband for Hull

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:56:02 +0000

KC has announced faster broadband for Hull and East Yorkshire.

Broadband provider KC has confirmed the next phase of its multi-million pound investment into internet services across Hull and East Yorkshire.

It will mean that its new KC Lightstream and KC Lightstream Business services will be obtainable for 15,000 homes and businesses via its network.

The connections will be delivered via fibre-to-the-premises technology, meaning that internet users will be able to access broadband at speeds of up to 100Mbps.

These fibre installations will commence in regions of east and west Hull, Beverley and numerous villages in the county.

KC has announced six broadband deals for consumers, while five have been confirmed for organisations to choose from.

Homeowners can select from four KC Lightstream fibre broadband-only packages, with prices starting at £25 a month. In addition, two bundles that feature both phone and broadband services are available at £35 a month.

When choosing their deal, consumers have a number of speeds to choose from, varying from a superfast 45Mbps connection to a 100Mbps alternative.

On the other hand, four KC Lightstream packages have been made available to businesses, which are tailored for companies with prices ranging from £25 to £100 per month. As well as this, a business bundle is offered, featuring a call package.

Kevin Walsh, KC’s chief executive, said: "We've embarked on this ambitious fibre roll-out programme to give our customers the best-connected homes and businesses in the UK. This will give them access to the world of information, communication and entertainment that the internet offers at lightning speeds.

"This investment is the start of something very special for our region that we at KC are immensely proud of, and which I hope will make local people proud too."

News of KC's latest broadband offerings comes after Virgin Media launched a new marketing campaign that features Olympic runner Usain Bolt.

Bolt stars in the advertisements with Sir Richard Branson, with Virgin hoping that the promotional work will help to highlight its status as Britain's fastest broadband provide

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MP backs Ofcom broadband objective

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:22:20 +0000

Nicholas Soames has welcomed Ofcom's proposals for mobile broadband.

Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames has supported Ofcom's plans to deliver mobile broadband to 98 per cent of the UK population.

In the UK, many areas are still lacking effective mobile broadband connectivity, meaning that many firms are unable to expand their operations with internet-enabled devices.

It is believed that up to six million people in the UK have not been granted good mobile coverage.

Therefore, Ofcom's target has been welcomed positively by Mr Soames, who has been a campaigner for better broadband in West Sussex and other regions for a long time.

He has pushed for broadband improvements for several years and signed the Order Paper to back the watchdog's plans, following a debate on May 19th.

Mr Soames expressed that the objective will give a major boost to residents and businesses in his constituency, while equipping hundreds of thousands of homes with satisfactory standards of broadband service for the first time.

As well as this, homes, schools, farms and businesses will obtain access to internet coverage for the first time, Mr Soames noted.

He explained: "All this matters very much to us in rural Mid Sussex and West Sussex and will present further outstanding opportunities for business and commerce to continue to create the jobs and prosperity we badly need in our area.

"I have been involved in this campaign for over three years and I am delighted by the outcome."

Last month, Derbyshire County Council announced that is awarding prizes to people who complete a survey that aims to assess the efficiency of the region's broadband deals.

It has put £50 high street vouchers up for grabs as a means of encouraging people to submit their opinions.

The authority has been handed £7.39 million from the government's Broadband Delivery UK scheme, though this amount must be equalled with match funding by the council.

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Virgin Media carries out 4G testing in London

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:55:53 +0000

The company could launch a bid in the spectrum auction later this year.

Virgin Media has fuelled speculation that it could bid in the spectrum auction later this year after it carried out testing on its 4G mobile network technology in its Oxford Street store.

According to TechRadar, the broadband provider connected a phone to the store's connection using a special 4G dongle.

It is reported that the trial could also be rolled out to other consumers in the near future as the telecommunications giant considers bidding.

Previously, it was thought that O2, Everything Everywhere, Vodafone and Three were going to be the only companies signing up to Ofcom's auction.

"Ofcom were quite explicit about encouraging new entrants into the market, which is an encouraging sign. They are looking at making the sort of spectrum that we would look to use available, not just for the big mobile operators. So there is potential here for the market to open up," a Virgin Media spokesperson told IT Pro.

"This was a technical trial, so we were testing how far it went, how robust the coverage was and the speeds it was doing. We were measuring the coverage rather than using any applications," they went on to say.

The news comes after Virgin Media announced that more than four million households will have their broadband speeds doubled, with its 120MB connection becoming the fastest in the country.

A roll-out of improvements will start next month, continuing over the next 18 months, with a completion expected by the middle of 2013.

As part of the deal, subscribers to the firm's current 10MB, 20MB, 30MB and 50MB services will have their speeds at least doubled, with those signed up to 100MB being given 120MB broadband.

"I welcome this announcement from Virgin Media; it will provide a great boost for the economy and change the way many households, consumers and businesses use the internet," said prime minister David Cameron on the announcement.

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Broadband drive planned by Bedford Borough Council

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:25:11 +0000

Bedford Borough Council is hoping to boost broadband in the area.

Bedford Borough Council has begun a consultation on a new broadband project, which hopes to bolster the availability of fast broadband deals in the region.

It will especially target rural areas where availability and speeds are at a poor level, with the authority hoping that financial backing will be provided by a funding package amounting to more than £1 million, including £440,000 from Broadband Delivery UK.

The authority aims for this amount to be equalled by the Bedford Borough Partnership Board, although the project is subject to a broadband plan, which aims to demonstrate how faster broadband could be made available in the region.

Bedford is not working alone on its plans, as it has partnered with Central Befordshire Council and Milton Keynes Council in an effort to put forward a joint submission.

In order to encourage broadband infrastructure providers to invest in the region, local residents and businesses have been asked to register their interest in faster broadband.

They have also been consulted to discover how the funding should be utilised.

Speaking about the plans, mayor of Bedford Borough Dave Hodgson said: "This project will transform the way many people in the borough are able to access the internet and related broadband services.

"Many people have spoken to me about difficulties with broadband availability and connection speeds, particularly in our rural communities."

Mr Hodgson added that rural households and businesses require improved broadband as soon as possible.

This news comes after Daisy Wholesale gave some of its partners the opportunity to sample BT's latest fibre-to-the-cabinet technology.

At the moment, Daisy provides speeds of up to 40Mb, but it hopes that these could jump to 80Mb.

It is also hoping to go through with plans for 20Mb upload speeds to be made available to customers.

The trial is accessible in a select number of exchanges, with usage agreed with BT for those that meet its criteria.

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Windows 8 to include new broadband features

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:27:59 +0000

New features in Windows 8 may help improve the efficiency of broadband deals.

New features will be included in Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system that could help to improve the quality of people's broadband deals.

The new program aims to handle connections more effectively than previous versions, with users able to manage their connections to both Wi-Fi and mobile broadband networks.

Windows 8 has been developed in order to enable an easier connection process for internet customers, who will also be able to control cost and monitor data usage.

A post by Microsoft on its Building Windows 8 blog reads: "We looked at the fundamentals of wireless connectivity and re-engineered Windows 8 for a mobile and wireless future, going beyond the incremental improvements."

While Windows 7 enables users to connect to mobile broadband networks, they need to find and install the required drivers and software, whereas Windows 8 presents a mobile broadband class driver that is compatible with drivers from a number of mobile operators.

In addition, Windows 8 will give people the chance to use native management within a single console of mobile broadband device functions, which previously had to be completed in specific applications.

The blog post also stated: "We knew that if we were to give you true mobility, that Wi-Fi alone would not be enough. Therefore, for Windows 8, we fully developed and integrated mobile broadband as a first-class connectivity experience within Windows - right alongside Wi-Fi."

Furthermore, Windows 8 builds up information based on a user's internet actions, meaning that it can reconnect faster than Windows 7 after a computer has returned from standby mode.

Broadband customers at Virgin Media have also been boosted by the news of the broadband provider's new security software update.

The firm has introduced new features that defend computers from viruses, spyware and phishing scams. Developed by Radialpoint, the technology is available free of charge to the company's subscribers.

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Leicestershire County Council announces £4m broadband funding

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:30:06 +0000

Leicestershire County Council has announced a £4 million broadband funding package

Leicestershire County Council has confirmed that £4 million will be used to improve broadband deals in the area.

It is hoped that the investment will help to make superfast broadband available for up to 190,000 rural residents in the region, with added cash coming from the government and district councils in an attempt to ensure that the "final third" of Leicestershire will obtain superfast broadband access.

Areas such as Harborough, Melton, and Hinckley and Bosworth are among those that look set to benefit from the authority's new investment, which will be bolstered by an additional £3.14 million funding package from the government.

An extra £30,000 will also be allocated to the scheme, which will be used to assist communities in the most remote rural areas, where it is even more difficult for superfast broadband to be used.

Leicestershire County Council's contribution will use money provided by the government's £6 million Council Tax freeze grant.

In an effort to identify the areas that are in most need of superfast broadband, the authority will launch a survey next month, quizzing residents and businesses over the matter.

Byron Rhodes, leader of Melton Borough Council and a member of the county council's cabinet, said: "The Vale of Belvoir is a classic example of an area that could benefit from super-fast broadband links, giving its communities and businesses a real boost at a time of economic difficulty.

"I would encourage other district councils to follow Melton's lead and invest in this scheme."

Last month, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) urged the government to inject more money into improving broadband not-spots across the UK.

It emphasised that the coalition should prioritise not-spots, rather than boosting speeds in areas where broadband is already available at a satisfactory standard for residents and businesses.

The CLA believes that the benchmark broadband speed should also be increased to 5Mbps.

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Virgin Media suffers broadband outage

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:41:35 +0000

Virgin Media was hit by a broadband outage this week.

Subscribers to Virgin Media broadband deals found that services throughout Britain failed on Tuesday (December 17th).

The blackout happened at peak evening time, stopping users from accessing the internet between 17:00GMT to 20:00GMT, meaning that any plans to check emails or complete online shopping had to be abandoned.

Many customers who attempted to contact Virgin Media for information on the fault were left without an answer due to an overwhelming number of calls to the broadband provider.

It did not disclose exactly how many people were affected by the issue, and has stated that the fault has now been fixed.

Virgin Media has yet to explain why the blackout happened, but a representative spoke to the BBC on Wednesday concerning the issue.

They noted: "Our customers may have experienced some problems getting online yesterday evening. Our engineers quickly fixed the problem and service was restored by 8pm. We apologise for the inconvenience."

When the blackout occurred, the broadband provider released a statement on its website, giving advice to those who were still experiencing problems.

The post read: "If you have still not been able to reconnect - please try powering down your router for five minutes and then turn back on and this should re-establish your connection."

It is the second error made by Virgin Media this month, after an email was accidentally sent out to its subscribers, incorrectly implying that they would all be gaining superfast services.

The email was sent to all four million of the firm's customers last week, but Virgin Media intended for it to be sent only to those who pay for its 100Mb package, who will be upgraded to 120Mb in future.

After the mistake, the broadband provider sent out another email to apologise for its error, explaining that it was "sorry for any misunderstanding".

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South Yorks broadband plans in jeopardy?

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:29:40 +0000

Could the Digital Region network be in jeopardy?

Millions of extra pounds may be needed to save South Yorkshire's Digital Region network, after losses of over £9 million were revealed for last year.

The scheme has been initiated in an effort to ensure that next-generation broadband is accessible to nearly every home and business in the county, but could be on the verge of collapsing following a lack of interest from broadband providers, reports the Yorkshire Post.

It aims to supply superfast broadband within the reach of 80 per cent of premises in the region by the middle of 2012, though its newly confirmed losses could mean that its future is bleak.

The network is offered on an open access wholesale basis, but it has not garnered any serious interest from Britain's major broadband providers, with many preferring the services offered by its rival BT.

Another problem is the scheme's revenue, reaching only £167,000 so far, an amount that is significantly lower than its operating costs, while its accounts state that there is a "material uncertainty" regarding whether it can continue.

To assist Digital Region's financial woes, Yorkshire Forward has handed £4 million of public funds to the scheme, which it can use to prevent itself from going bust.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Yorkshire Forward chief executive Thea Stain said: "The decision was made with the local authorities that Digital Region might need more money. Clearly the discussion has been had with central government, as all Yorkshire Forward’s funding ultimately comes through them.

"We are committed to seeing Digital Region flourish, but like all start-up businesses it needs support."

Last month, Openreach boosted its fibre deployment programme with an extra 178 exchanges.

The move means that homes and businesses will gain faster broadband infrastructure, with Openreach's footprint expected to account for two-thirds of UK sites by the end of 2014.

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Virgin apologises for email error

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:44:02 +0000

Virgin has apologised for an email error that told customers to expect superfast speeds.

Subscribers to Virgin Media broadband deals have received an apology from the company, after it accidentally distributed an email that implied all of its users would be gaining superfast services.

The email reached all four million of the broadband provider's customers last week, although it was supposed to be sent exclusively to those who pay for the firm's 100Mb package.

These customers will benefit from an upgrade to 120Mb, but the email implied that all of its customers would obtain these connections. Following the mistake, the broadband provider quickly sent out a second email to apologise for the error.

Virgin Media recently announced that connections between 10Mb and 40Mb will at least double as part of the company's upgrade program, which will commence next month and continue until the middle of 2013.

The move follows the government's objective of ensuring that 90 per cent of Britain's homes and businesses will have superfast accessibility by 2015.

Commenting on the email error, a representative from Virgin Media stated: "Our first email, intended for our 100Mb customers, was accidentally sent to some customers on other tiers which may have led to some confusion.

"We're sorry for any misunderstanding and will be writing to customers again soon to clarify how the upgrade will affect them."

The spokesperson went on to say that Virgin Media's 50Mb customers will be upgraded to 120Mb as part of the firm's upgrade plans.

Recently, figures from Ofcom found that Virgin Media generated 0.19 complaints per 1,000 customers in the period between July and September 2011.

Sky recorded the same figure, while TalkTalk received the highest number of complaints, with Ofcom reporting 0.55 per 1,000 customers.

Line faults and other service problems were cited as two of the key reasons for the high volume of complaints. The provider with the second highest number of complaints was BT.

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Shetland communities told to discuss fibre plans

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:45:40 +0000

Shetland communities have been urged to discuss plans for a new fibre cable.

Rural communities have been urged to team up and discuss how their regions can take advantage of a new fibre optic cable in Shetland, which could lead to improved broadband deals in the area.

Costing £1.1 million, the SIC cable will operate between Maywick and Lerwick and is set to be activated next month. Once it goes live, local telecoms firms will be able to offer their customers data speeds in excess of 25Mbps, reports the Shetland Times.

When the cable is activated, communities such as Sandwick, Cunningsburgh, Quarff and Gulberwick will need to find a method of connecting to the fibre cable.

Shetland Broadband could be the first broadband provider to utilise the cable, with the firm's project manager Marvin Smith telling the Shetland Times that the technology enables SIC to fit access points anywhere between Sandwick and Lerwick.

Consequently, communities will be able to implement their own solution by installing wireless systems or running additional fibre from the access points to premises.

Mr Smith has called on the communities to contact the provider in order to discuss options for the technology.

He told the newspaper: "We're certainly in the position now where we need to have conversations with any groups that are wanting to push forward with better telecommunications in their area. Where people will be able to afford to do it is where there are groups of house."

Plans have already been made for fibre to be laid between Lerwick and the North Mainland, though this is subject to funding.

Recently, Vaioni, the UK's largest Ethernet aggregator, will introduce business broadband deals that boast speeds of up to 35Mbps.

These offerings have been designed alongside BT Wholesale, with the service being delivered over Vaioni's Next Generation Carrier platform, which provides services such as Advanced Layer2 monitoring.

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Ofcom confirms proposals to boost mobile broadband coverage

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:56:07 +0000

Ofcom has announced proposals to improve 4G coverage in the UK.

Ofcom has confirmed proposals to improve 4G mobile spectrum coverage across Britain, facilitating more mobile broadband deals.

Its new measures expect to expand mobile broadband accessibility to at least 98 per cent of the British population, as demand for the technology is predicted to rise by more than 500 per cent across the next five years.

Ofcom believes that customers are likely to gain better services at lower prices in the future if there are a minimum of four national wholesalers of mobile services.

It also estimated that, without the correct quality and mix of spectrum, an operator may struggle to compete with other national wholesale providers.

Ofcom has lobbied the idea of reserving some spectrum in the 2.6GHz band to be shared by a group of companies, with potential applications including local networks for student campuses, hospitals or commercial offices.

The watchdog also wants mobile broadband services to be provided in locations where they are more valuable to consumers.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "We are proposing a significant enhancement of mobile broadband, extending 4G coverage beyond levels of existing 2G coverage – helping to serve many areas of the UK that have traditionally been underserved by network coverage."

Mr Richards added that Ofcom's objective is to promote effective competition that leads to both investment and innovation.

Ofcom also addressed the internet market in November, telling broadband providers to ensure that customers are aware of how online traffic is being managed.

The organisation has urged firms to reveal how processes can affect the speed of broadband deals, so that customers can gain a better understanding of how their services can be affected.

Traffic management is used to handle congestion by slowing down or accelerating the flow of traffic online, ensuring that safety-critical traffic can be protected.

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Broadband growth reaches 2009 levels, research shows

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:31:30 +0000

Broadband growth has increased to 2009 levels, a study has found.

A significant increase in growth was recorded in 2011, with more subscribers to broadband deals registered in the third quarter than any time since 2009.

Broadband growth during the four month period is forecast at 17.4 million lines, raising the global total to 581.3 million and indicating a quarterly increase of 3.08 per cent, according to statistics compiled for the Broadband Forum by Point Topic.

Asia was found to be the most dominant region for broadband services, with China almost doubling its amount of broadband registrants.

In Asia, more than 10.3 million subscriber lines were added in 2011's third quarter, meaning that the continent now has 42.34 per cent of the total market share in broadband.

The study also found that fibre to the x (FTTx) technology is now becoming more prevalent, with FTTx/hybrid and fibre to the home (FTTH) services displaying the largest growth in the market with eight per cent.

This compares to the 2.2 per cent increase that was found for cable modems and a two per cent rise for DSL technology. Overall, FTTx added slightly less than 19 million lines in 2011's third quarter, representing more than double the number added in the same period in 2010.

Robin Mersh, chief executive officer of the Broadband Forum, said: "These are very healthy figures for quarter three and they demonstrate the ongoing strength of the broadband market.

"We are especially pleased to see the trend in fibre technologies beginning to take off. Our G-PON certification programme, launched in quarter three and with the first certifications already in place, has been very widely welcomed and this is an indication that the market is ready for much further growth."

The research comes after O2 announced that Europe's largest free Wi-Fi zone will be launched in London.

It follows an agreement between Westminster City Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and O2, and the service will cost the taxpayer nothing.

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Usain Bolt stars in new Virgin Media marketing campaign

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:55:04 +0000

Usain Bolt is the star of Virgin Media's latest marketing campaign

Virgin Media has launched a marketing campaign to promote its new broadband deals, starring Olympic runner Usain Bolt.

Bolt features in the advertisements alongside Sir Richard Branson, with the project hoping to emphasise Virgin's position as the UK's fastest broadband provider.

Using the tagline "Keep Up", the campaign sees Bolt trying to impersonate Branson, sporting the Virgin chairman's trademark blonde goatee.

Seth Gordon directed the advertisements, which will be shown for the first time during ITV1's Take Me Out Show this Saturday (January 14th), after campaign teasers are shown in TV and Facebook on the previous night.

It is hoped that the campaign will promote the benefits of using Virgin Media broadband, with a dedicated website set to go online tonight (January 13th) to accompany the advertisements.

Twitter has already been utilised, with Usain Bolt this week pretending to be Richard Branson on the microblogging website under the hastage #IamRBranson.

Jeff Dodds, executive director of brand and marketing communications at Virgin Media, described the campaign as a "brilliantly simple idea".

Mr Dodds explained: "We've got a long history of giving our customers more and we wanted to let them know about the exciting boost they’ll soon get from us.

"Our competitors' customers might also feel a twinge of envy when they hear about this as what better spokesperson for our superfast broadband than Usain Bolt? He's the living embodiment of speed!"

Mr Dodds insisted that, when planning the campaign, Virgin Media strived to avoid "sportsman endorsement clichés".

Virgin announced its new broadband deals earlier this week, confirming that four million of its customers will benefit from better services.

The upgrade is scheduled to begin February and will cost around £110 million.

It will mean that subscribers to the firm's existing 10Mb, 20Mb and 50Mb services will see their speeds at least doubled, whereas customers using 100Mb deals will be upgraded to 120Mb.

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Rural North Yorks residents set for better broadband

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:25:39 +0000

Rural North Yorkshire homeowners look set to benefit from better broadband services

More residents in rural North Yorkshire will be able to use improved broadband deals in the future, as grants amounting to almost £50,000 have been handed out in the area.

The service will be provided by LN Communications Ltd, with the grant coming from the Connecting North Yorkshire and the Rural Development Programme for England.

Connecting North Yorkshire is spearheaded by North Yorkshire County Council, which has worked closely alongside Harrogate Borough Council on the scheme, and is financially backed by the European Union.

The project has gained roughly £15 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Additionally, the county council's broadband company NYnet is operating in conjunction with ERDF to secure match funding, meaning that the total broadband investment in the county will reach between £25 and £30 million.

Among the village communities that will profit from the funding are Barden, Bunsall, Darley, Fewston, Hartington and Hazlewood.

The second phase of Connecting North Yorkshire will bring high-speed broadband to other areas of the region and is now going through a procurement process, with a successful contractor set for appointment in June.

Ruth Smith, Local Enterprise Partnership board member and Darley resident, said: "As well as being great news for local residents, a high-speed connection helps attract investment and can help businesses become more efficient, access new markets and enable people to work from home."

Ms Smith underlined that the project will help to ensure the region's rural communities remain vibrant places to work.

While North Yorkshire looks poised to enjoy improved broadband, the Countryside Alliance has claimed that plans to bring broadband to the UK's rural areas have stalled.

It believes that the government is talking a "great game" but not living up to its guarantees, with the group believing that the coalition is leaving many authorities unassisted when it comes to making use of financial packages.

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Virgin Media announces it will double speed of broadband service

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:30:17 +0000

The upgrading of the company's service is due to take place in February.

Virgin Media has announced that it is doubling the speed of its broadband service for around four million of its customers.

The move is set to take place in February, with the full rollout completed by the middle of next year, costing the firm around £110 million.

In addition, the top speed of Virgin Media's broadband will jump from 100Mbps to 120Mbps.

Neil Berkett, chief executive of the company, said that the firm's customers will "love" the news, as the internet has now become "an integral part of our social, work and family lives".

"As people are increasingly doing more online, and getting connected to the internet with lots of different devices, having a fast, reliable broadband service should not be a luxury. We want to make sure that consumers have access to the best value broadband service and that means a superfast connection," he added.

The move has also been praised by prime minister David Cameron, who said that it will "provide a great boost for the economy", along with changing the way in which many people use the internet.

"Rolling out superfast broadband across the country is a critical part of our plan to upgrade the UK's infrastructure and build a new and smarter economy," he said in a statement.

It comes after BT announced in October last year that it will be delivering broadband speeds of up to 300Mbps to some UK users by spring 2012.

While this access will only be available to a minority, the company said that a 80Mbps service will be unveiled to others.

On the back of Virgin Media's announcement, BT said that it was "no surprise" to see its competitor "following our lead by doubling speeds".

It noted that Virgin is 'playing catch up' after BT unveiled its strategy a number of months ago.

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Vaioni partners with BT for business broadband project

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:33:23 +0000

Vaioni has joined forces with BT for a business broadband initiative.

Vaioni, Britain's biggest Ethernet aggregator, will launch business broadband deals that offer speeds of up to 35Mbps alongside BT Wholesale.

It is claimed that its EFM product presents full national coverage and guaranteed low latency links, which BT and Vaioni believe will prove popular with enterprise customers.

The Ethernet over copper service will be delivered over Vaioni's Next Generation Carrier platform, providing services such as Advanced Layer2 monitoring, and a MEF 14 compliant quality of service.

Additionally, the service has been optimised for cloud computing and benefits from full national coverage, while offering the industry's strongest service level agreement (SLA).

A 99.96 uptime SLA is guaranteed by the business, which also strives to repair any hardware faults within four hours.

Paul Beacham, BT Wholesale’s head of fixed Ethernet products, said that the firm is constantly looking to boost the power of its communications in order to provide customers with the best available technology.

Mr Beacham explained: "We continue to make a raft of enhancements to our Wholesale Ethernet portfolio - including the introduction of the up to 35Mb EFM option - which allow our customers to tailor Ethernet to meet their customers’ needs.

"We are pleased to support Vaioni’s Ethernet offerings and look forward to working with them and all our wholesale customers on new opportunities."

Sachin Vaish, managing director at Vaioni, also commented on the news, saying that Vaioni remains proactive to guarantee that customers benefit from cutting-edge technology.

This news comes after Northamptonshire advanced towards gaining 100 per cent coverage of superfast broadband.

The government has approved the local council's internet strategy, only the fifth in Britain to be consented, possibly leading to internet speeds of 20Mbps being made available to every household in the county.

Local councillor Andre Gonzalez De Savage welcomed the plans, stating that the improvements will bring "huge advantages" for Northamptonshire.

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Global broadband subscribers to rise 60%, figures indicate

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:37:43 +0000

The number of global broadband subscribers looks set to rise.

The increasing demand for fast internet access will cause the number of subscribers to broadband deals to increase by 60 per cent, a study has found.

Around 350 million new consumers are expected to sign up for internet packages between 2011 and 2015, with the number of worldwide broadband subscribers anticipated to reach 949 million by 2015, statistics from IHS have determined.

In 2012, it is expected that broadband subscribers will soar to 676 million, rising 13 per cent from 2011's figure.

China and the Asia-Pacific region represented a disproportionately large share of new subscribers last year, accounting for 38 per cent of the world's new internet users, followed by 14 per cent in the Asia-Pacific region.

Across broadband technologies, asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) systems are proving popular, commanding a 51 per cent share of the world market in 2011's second quarter, pushed on by demand.

Fibre was the second most prominent technology, collecting around 34 per cent of the market, while cable modems took up nine per cent. Lastly, very-high-bit-rate digital subscriber lines (VDSL) represented six per cent of the world's broadband packages.

Lee Ratliff, senior analyst for broadband and digital home at IHS, said: "Global broadband subscriber activity serves as a long-term barometer of the overall health of the broadband industry, as well as an accurate prognosticator of prospects for the space's associated markets in broadband equipment and broadband-related semiconductors."

Mr Ratliff emphasised that the broadband supply chain is primed for strong growth in the forthcoming years.

Satellite broadband is another type of internet technology that could become more prevalent in the market, with Eutelsat Communications recently confirming that its Tooway satellite broadband service will feature in the Rural Connection Project.

The initiative is operated by the Devon and Somerset County Councils and aims to bring superfast broadband to more than 1,000 of the region's rural premises.

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Europe's biggest free Wi-Fi zone set for London

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:46:39 +0000

London is set to be the home of Europe's largest free Wi-Fi zone.

Europe's largest free Wi-Fi zone has been planned for London, following an agreement between Westminster City Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and O2.

The agreement will cost the taxpayer nothing and makes up part of the two councils' plans to ensure that people in the city can enjoy improved broadband deals ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Free Wi-Fi access will be obtainable across Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea as soon as the Metro wireless network is fitted on street furniture. Initially, the technology will be rolled out to a limited number of areas, prior to a future extension.

O2 will start to install the network this month. The initiative comes after the firm launched its O2 Wi-Fi programme, targeting free and fast Wi-Fi throughout Britain.

It is hoped that the new connections will help tourists to have the best experience possible in the capital.

Derek McManus, chief operating officer for O2, suggested that the long-term aim of the company is to extend its O2 Wi-Fi footprint, delivering services to a wider number of people.

Mr McManus underlined: "Our £500 million annual network investment programme is focussed on integrating new layers of technology into the existing network to enable a seamless and sustained customer experience.

"We are driven entirely by our customers’ needs and believe that services should be delivered in the best possible way, across multiple networks and supported by different technologies."

A new Wi-Fi service was launched by Tesco Extra last month, meaning that customers in the stores will have internet access when on the move.

Free connections will be usable in all of the Tesco Extra supermarkets, spanning from Aberdeen to Bournemouth.

Customers can access the service by inputting their Clubcard numbers, but those without the cards are limited to 15 minutes of use every day.

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Satellite broadband contract awarded to Onwave Ltd

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:01:43 +0000

Onwave Ltd has collected a satellite broadband contract in Northern Ireland.

Enterprise minister Arlene Foster has confirmed that Onwave Ltd has been awarded a contract to provide high speed satellite broadband deals in Northern Ireland.

As a result, regions that have previously been challenging to reach for broadband providers will now may be able to obtain faster speeds, increasing economic, educational and social opportunities in the areas.

Onwave Ltd has been given a three-year contract, enabling it to target consumers, small businesses and small to medium-sized enterprises with KA-Band technology.

The system allows customers to benefit from high-speed broadband, telephone and television via one single connection.

Onwave was established in 2008 and has since become one of Europe's leading distributors of broadband via satellite, and its new services will be available at wholesale prices, meaning they can be delivered by other broadband providers.

Ms Foster believes that the contract demonstrates the commitment made by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to boost broadband coverage, potentially playing a key role in economic, educational and social development.

She explained: "I look forward to working with Onwave over the next three years as they roll-out delivery of their new broadband services. The products on offer mark an evolution in satellite broadband technology.

"Although there is an increase in costs for the new services, they are of a significantly higher specification than those previously available."

Figures from Point Topic have indicated that British consumers are now showing more demand for superfast broadband.

The group found that a net 289,000 broadband lines were added to the UK market in 2011's third quarter, jumping from the previous quarter's rise of 240,100 lines.

Point Topic also discovered that total broadband lines in the country soared to more than 20.4 million by the end of September, marking a 6.4 per cent increase from last year's 19.2 million figure.

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CLA echoes govt's call for improved rural broadband

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:45:08 +0000

The CLA has supported the environment secretary's call for better rural broadband.

The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has echoed environment secretary Caroline Spelman's statement that broadband deals need to be improved in rural areas.

In an article for the Daily Telegraph, Ms Spelman remarked that rural communities and businesses have been subjected to an urban-rural divide, leaving them with difficulties when it comes to obtaining adequate internet services.

Reacting to Ms Spelman's message, CLA president Harry Cotterell said that the organisation has been emphasising the need for improved rural broadband for many years, and that it was "heartening" to see the government acknowledge the issue.

Mr Cotterell noted: "The measures to help the rural economy, announced by the chancellor in November, were a good start but still more needs to be done to ensure fairness for rural communities and businesses – with a commitment to providing fast broadband for all and affordable housing for rural workers and to scrapping empty property business rates."

As part of her original post, Caroline Spelman announced a rural hotline, allowing rural organisations and farmers to contact the government with queries relating to broadband and other services.

This was greeted warmly by Mr Cotterell, who explained that openness is important across the government, and expressed that he is looking forward to seeing the benefits of the hotline.

In particular reference to farming, he said that it is vital for the government to listen to what land managers have to say about their services.

Last month, BT announced that Greater Manchester has been targeted for broadband improvements.

The broadband provider will invest substantially in the area, increasing the number of areas covered by its network to over 732,000.

Ardwick is one of the areas that will benefit from the action, with BT's Mike Blackburn deeming the upgrades a "tremendous boost" for the region.

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Could broadband help rural regions?

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:42:39 +0000

Broadband will help to close the gap separating urban and rural communities, it has been suggested.

Broadband packages will help to close the gap between urban and rural communities, according to the environment secretary Caroline Spelman.

In her latest column for the Daily Telegraph, Ms Spelman noted that the government is planning to create a level playing field for country premises, thanks to initiatives such as the Rural Community Broadband Fund.

She explained that, while many people enjoy the serenity of living in the countryside, away from bustling city centres, such rural locations are deprived of reliable internet connections.

"For too long rural communities and businesses have been left on their own to try to find solutions to the problems they face. That is unacceptable, and we must make sure that they are not left behind," Ms Spelman wrote in the Telegraph article.

In order to tackle such issues, Ms Spelman stated that 14 rural and farming networks have been created, presenting people with a route straight to the government to offer their thoughts on policy development.

She commented: "These networks will give rural business and community leaders a direct link to me and my team to tell us their problems so we can find ways to help."

It is hoped that the network will help rural towns and villages to grow and thrive, Ms Spelman emphasised.

Improvements to broadband are currently undergoing across the UK, as BT continues its roll-out initiative.

One area that is set to benefit is North Lincolnshire, where the local authority's plans for superfast broadband have advanced.

BT has included Scunthorpe and Brigg in its latest roll-out programme, meaning that around 30,000 homes in the county will obtain superfast broadband coverage during 2012.

Councillor Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, has described the development as "superb news" that has arrived at a great time for the authority.

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Daisy Wholesale announces trial of BT broadband connection

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:41:54 +0000

Daisy Wholesale is to trial BT's FFTC service.

Daisy Wholesale has given some of its partners the chance to sample BT's latest fibre-to-the-cabinet (FFTC) broadband deal.

This invitation has been offered in an effort to double the download speed of its current offering, giving people the chance to sample faster broadband connections, ahead of a planned upgrade in the near future.

Currently, Daisy provides speeds of up to 40Mb, although it hopes that they could rise to 80Mb, while plans are for upload speeds of 20Mb to also be made available.

The trial is obtainable in a selected number of exchanges and, for those who meet its criteria, usage has been agreed with BT.

Daisy Wholesale product manager Craig Peterson said that high demand has been seen from resellers who wish to participate in the project, with the improved connections giving people faster access to music, films and other online multimedia.

Mr Paterson elaborated: "These trials will give partners and end users the opportunity to understand the benefits of superfast broadband in their business in advance of the next generation of FTTC products, which will offer even greater speeds for those served directly via the exchange."

He continued by describing the trial as a way for partners to engage with their customer base and shape the methods through which modern businesses can collaborate at high speed.

The Isle of Wight is also set to benefit from improved broadband, as its cabinet has confirmed plans to invest £3 million in helping to supply the services.

George Brown, Isle of Wight Council's deputy leader, confirmed that BT has committed to installing superfast connections in commercially viable areas, such as Newport, Cowes and Ryde.

As part of the plans, the council is hoping that its planned £3 million investment will be matched by government money along with extra funding from the private sector.

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TalkTalk refused 'UK's safest broadband' label

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:48:53 +0000

TalkTalk can no longer claim to offer Britain's safest broadband.

TalkTalk has been restricted from using the label of being Britain's safest broadband provider, after BT and two members of the public triggered an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The firm boasted that it is the only broadband firm in the UK that offers network level security filtering via its HomeSafe service, meaning that any computer or device connecting to the internet via its router would receive its specialist protection.

TalkTalk claimed that, while other providers offered security packages, they all had to be downloaded and contained limits and restrictions on the number of devices that could be protected.

Its HomeSafe service is free of charge and enables network level protection, so security threats are eliminated before they even reach computers.

Therefore, inappropriate websites are filtered out, assisting users in stopping viruses before they affect users.

As well as this, the service alerts consumers when they visit a suspicious website and allows people to set time limits for internet use.

Upholding the complaints, the ASA said: "We considered that customers could interpret safest as referring to a number of features, such as virus protection or protection from hacking, and that HomeSafe only offered a basic range of security features.

"We did not consider that consumers would interpret 'safest' as referring to blocking of inappropriate content, and restricting access to certain sites at certain times."

It was determined by the ASA that the TV ad breached BCAP Codes 3.1 (Misleading advertising), 3.9 (Substantiation) and 3.38 (Other comparisons).

In addition, the poster and press adverts breached CAP Codes (Edition 12) rules 3.1 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (Substantiation) and 3.38 (Other comparisons).

Virgin Media, one of TalkTalk's market rivals, introduced its own security update last month, providing customers with the latest anti-malware technology.

The new features will defend computers from viruses, spyware and phishing scams.

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Post Office launches new broadband offer

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:52:40 +0000

The Post Office has announced a new broadband deal.

The Post Office has launched a new broadband deal, giving consumers £50 cashback when they sign up to one of its home phone and broadband packages this month.

It could be a particularly enticing offer for people who do not have a landline connection, as the Post Office is presenting a free phone line connection to anyone who subscribes.

The deal includes up to 8Mbps broadband, 5Gb monthly downloads and a free modem for £21.40.

By paying an extra £4.65 per month, consumers can obtain a wireless router with their package, enabling them to access the internet via a selection of web-enabled devices throughout their home.

Additionally, those who subscribe will be given on-net calls anytime, evening and weekend calls to UK landlines and 0845/0870 numbers, which could help to make significant savings on their phone bills.

On top of this, customers will be given weekend calls to mobile numbers and the top 40 international locations.

As an added incentive, the package features a "Loved Ones" option, meaning that people can benefit from a ten per cent discount on calls that they make to selected individuals, while a free 60 minute call will be provided on their birthdays and Christmas Day.

Despite its efforts, the Post Office will still face intense competition in the broadband market, as a number of providers have boosted their offerings as a means to lure customers.

One of these is BT, which has expanded its range of BT Infinity deals to feature a new ultrafast service, supplying maximum download speeds of 100Mbps.

Entitled Infinity Option 3, the service is based on fibre that is delivered to individual homes. It offers the company's highest consumer download speed, and enables users to upload material to the internet at up to 15Mbps.

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Britons spent 13m hours shopping online on Boxing Day

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:13:48 +0000

Britain spent 13 million hours shopping on the internet during Boxing Day 2011.

British internet users broke online records this Boxing Day, as 13 million hours were spent shopping using broadband providers' internet services.

Online stockists received 96 million UK internet visits on the December 26th, marking an increase of 19.5 per cent when compared to the visits seen on last year's Boxing Day, figures from Experian Hitwise have shown.

Consequently, Boxing Day 2011 has become the single biggest shopping day in the UK ever, with shoppers increasing progressively from Christmas Eve, and a new interest in buying products online on Christmas Day.

Also, a key factor for the increase in shoppers is that Boxing Day fell on a Monday this year. However, the eventual figures exceeded Experian Hitwise's estimate of 95 million UK internet visits.

The research found that the top 20 retailers receiving traffic on December 26th was more focused on fashion stores, with New Look and River Island notably moving up the rankings, finishing in 17th and 16th respectively.

Sales meant that department stores such as M&S, Debenhams and House of Fraser also jumped in the rankings.

James Murray, marketing and research analyst at Experian Hitwise, said: "The online only retailers are making inroads to multi-channel’s dominance of Christmas shopping. Last year the gap between the two was 2.81 per cent of all UK Internet visits on Boxing Day, whereas this year that difference has fallen to 2.41 per cent."

Mr Murray added that multi-channel stockists took the "lion's share" of traffic over December, when there were almost twice as many visits to them in comparison to exclusively-online retailers.

Experian Hitwise's study emerges after Ofcom found that eight in ten British internet users ordered services or goods online in 2010.

As a result, the UK has more online shoppers than any other European country.

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Govt gives green light to Northamptonshire broadband strategy

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:23:11 +0000

The government has improved Northamptonshire's local broadband plan.

Northamptonshire is progressing towards having complete coverage of superfast broadband, as the government has approved the local council's internet strategy.

The county council's local broadband plan is only the fifth in the UK to be approved, potentially bringing internet speeds of 20Mbps to every household in the county.

Once the council has finalised the required procurement, the government will confirm £4.08 million of funding for broadband deals in Northampton. This figure will then need to be matched by Northamptonshire County Council, paving the way for private companies to bid to complete the work.

Urban areas in the region are generally able to access fast internet speeds as a result of the relatively high population density, meaning that it is commercially viable for firms to introduce infrastructure.

This is not the case in rural areas, where the cost of implementing infrastructure is not as financially advantageous for providers.

Councillor Andre Gonzalez De Savage, county council cabinet member for infrastructure and public protection, said that improvements in broadband speed will yield huge advantages for Northamptonshire.

Mr De Savage explained: "High broadband speed will have huge advantages for Northamptonshire as it will allow the county to be a strong competitor in the global digital economy and allow everyone to have access to new and improved services that are increasingly available online.

"In the increasingly competitive global economy it is essential that superfast broadband is widely available and indeed when people are looking to re-locate, fast internet speeds are a key priority."

The varying degrees of internet accessibility in the UK has triggered a plea from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), warning that the government must take steps to outline how it will ensure that the UK's broadband infrastructure is capable of stopping a digital divide between rural and urban areas.

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Rural businesses seek better broadband in new year

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:37:50 +0000

Are rural businesses wanting faster broadband?

Rural businesses and communities have urged for more reliable broadband deals in the new year, one group has stated.

Due to 20 per cent of broadband users across England and Wales having a download speed of less than 2Mbps, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has called on the government to inject more money into improving rural broadband not-spots.

Ofcom provided the aforementioned statistic and found that up to 35 per cent of rural businesses and communities cannot access the internet at all.

Consequently, the CLA has emphasised that the government must focus on improving speeds in not-spots, as opposed to boosting connections in areas where broadband is already at a sufficient standard.

The group has told the government to increase the benchmark broadband speed to 5Mbps, in the hope that it will trigger better services for internet users across the country.

CLA president Harry Cotterell said that, while the government is investing millions to improve broadband delivery, its progress is not happening quickly enough in remote areas.
Mr Cotterell elaborated: "The rural-urban digital divide is growing at an alarming rate and causing major problems for farmers and landowners with commercial properties who have lost tenants because they cannot offer a superfast broadband connection."

He commented that rural communities without a reliable connection are also being adversely affected, as they cannot access online facilities to complete tasks such as tax returns and bill payments, while children cannot use the internet to help with their homework.

Worcestershire is one area where broadband improvements have been planned, as the local council is aiming to provide faster packages for the county's residents by 2015.

The authority's cabinet has made an indicative allocation of £8.5 million for the region's local broadband plan, and will work in conjunction with association organisations and the private sector to develop the proposals.

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Worcestershire County Council commits to broadband improvements

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:56:14 +0000

Worcestershire County Council has committed to improving internet connections.

Worcestershire County Council has confirmed its intention to provide faster broadband deals for residents in the county by 2015.

The authority's cabinet has made an indicative allocation of £8.5 million for the area's local broadband plan (LBP). It will work in partnership with associated organisations and the private sector to develop the proposals.

Worcestershire's LBP aims to install a superfast broadband network to boost speed, coverage and reliability, with the objective of creating "faster broadband for all by 2015".

As part of the plans, the authority has set a target for everyone in the county to obtain a minimum speed of 2Mbps.

In addition, the council wants superfast broadband to be available for 90 per cent of the county by 2015.

Worcestershire's LBP will be forwarded to Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) in December. If this is improved, the council will be able to draw on £3.3 million of BDUK funding next year.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said: "Connectivity is absolutely vital for businesses to flourish and to take place internationally.

"A key area of focus for Worcestershire County Council is ensuring Worcestershire is, and remains, open for business and superfast broadband is crucial for Worcestershire's future economy."

The internet impacts every area of people's lives, but only provides benefits to those who can access and use it properly, Mr Geraghty emphasised.

Worcester's broadband plans have emerged after O2 began its trial of 4G broadband in London.

This project will run for nine months, giving hundreds of consumers, businesses and venue owners a chance to sample the latest 4G technology.

In total, more than 25 sites will be able to utilise the services, spanning across a combined area of 40 sq km.

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Devon utilises Eutelsat satellite broadband in new scheme

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:51:11 +0000

Devon is using Eutelsat satellite broadband in a new initiative.

Eutelsat Communications has confirmed that the Tooway satellite broadband service will feature in the Rural Connection Project, operated by Devon and Somerset County Councils.

Consequently, high-speed broadband deals will be available to more than 1,000 of the region's most rural homes and businesses, which will be connected via a small satellite dish fitted on the outside of their premises.

An investment of £1 million will allow the Tooway satellite broadband service to be installed free of charge, providing properties are in the eligible area. Those taking part will be able to benefit from download speeds of up to 10 Mbps, as well as maximum upload speeds of 4Mbps.

This funding was provided by a European Union financial package from the European Rural Development Programme for England.

The scheme will run in conjunction with the wider Connecting Devon and Somerset scheme, an initiative that aims to deliver superfast connectivity to a minimum of 85 per cent of homes and businesses.

Somerset’s cabinet member for strategic planning and economic development David Hall said: "The project has been welcomed by the business community in the area and will include a range of business support activities to help enterprises fully benefit from improved connectivity.

"We know being able to reach new markets, undertake research and do basic regulatory tasks online are essential to the survival and growth of rural businesses."

The Tooway service is delivered through Eutelsat's KA-SAT satellite, which began commercial service in May of this year.

Last month, a study from Strategy Analytics discovered that the mobile broadband market's global installed base will increase beyond 525 million units by 2016.

This rise will be driven by device costs, growth in mobile hotspots for multiple devices and an increase in flexible tariffs.

Also, a shift to Long Term Evolution technology will contribute to the expansion of the technology's global installed base.

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Connecting North Yorkshire project boosts connectivity

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:42:03 +0000

The Connecting North Yorkshire project will boost connectivity in and around Great and Little Ouseburn.

Homeowners located in villages in and around Great and Little Ouseburn will benefit from high-speed broadband deals, thanks to the Connecting North Yorkshire (CNY) initiative.

This project will allow individuals and businesses to access quicker connections that utilise a fibre hub to transmit services wirelessly to surrounding communities, such as the aforementioned two villages as well as Marton-cum-Grafton, Upper and Lower Dunsforth, and Whixley.

CNY is spearheaded by North Yorkshire County Council and its partners, NYnet and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). It has been handed £17.8 million by BDUK, which has been given the task of ensuring that 90 per cent of Britain can access high-quality broadband by 2015.

In particular, the Great Ouseburn area will have LN Communications as its internet service provider, which is a wireless service provider that has already helped several community networks in North Yorkshire and East Riding.

County councillor Carl Les, who chairs CNY, said: "The good news is that the funding for the Great Ouseburn area project is coming from the Performance Reward Grant, which is money North Yorkshire received for exceeding its targets set by government across public services.

"It is anticipated further communities will be able to bid for this money as we seek to add at least another dozen schemes to our already impressive list as an early win for CNY."

Also, David Burton, one of the community champions for the Great Ouseburn CNY project, described the developments as wonderful news.

These remarks have been made shortly after Ofcom announced its customer service figures for broadband providers in the UK.

The watchdog found that Sky has attained the best feedback from consumers, with 64 per cent of them expressing satisfaction with its customer service.

On the other hand, only 15 per cent expressed dissatisfaction with its customer service.

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Ofcom releases customer service figures

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:30:00 +0000

Ofcom has unveiled its customer service figures for broadband firms.

Sky has attained the best feedback from consumers when it comes to customer service practices, Ofcom statistics have determined.

It was found that 64 per cent of the broadband provider's subscribers expressed satisfaction with its customer service, showing a comparatively wide margin to the 15 per cent of its customer base that was dissatisfied.

Another firm that achieved success in the research was TalkTalk, which improved many elements of its customer service, triggering a drop in its number of received complaints.

The company's number of complaints has fallen substantially below average, while its overall levels of customer service improved to reach the market average.

On the other hand, Ofcom found that 58 per cent of Orange customers are happy with the provider's customer service, a figure that is significantly higher than its proportion of dissatisfied subscribers, which stood at 16 per cent.

In the mobile broadband market, O2 accomplished the highest level of satisfaction, with 72 per cent of its consumer base expressing happiness with its customer service.

This compares to the ten per cent of its customers who were dissatisfied with its efforts, while 18 per cent gave a neutral reaction.

Orange's customer service also reached identical figures to O2, while Vodafone and Virgin Mobile followed with satisfaction rates of 66 per cent and 62 per cent respectively.

Ofcom's consumer group director Claudio Pollack said: "Ofcom hopes that this research will both incentivise providers to improve all aspects of their customer service, as well as giving consumers valuable information about the standards of customer service when choosing a provider."

The watchdog's findings follow advice from the Federation of Small Businesses, which is calling on the government to outline plans for its broadband infrastructure.

It wants the coalition to specify a clear commitment to the technology, explaining how the systems will be deployed and where gaps in coverage will be situated after 2015.

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FSB warns of UK digital divide

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:48:46 +0000

The Federation of Small Businesses wants the government to detail how it will boost internet access.

The government must take steps to outline how it will guarantee that Britain has a broadband infrastructure capable of preventing a divide between rural and urban areas, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned.

This warning follows the FSB-supported CMA Internet Opportunity Survey, which found that many small businesses cannot access broadband deals, resulting in hindered productivity.

In total, nine per cent cannot access broadband at all, while 22 per cent cannot use current generation broadband in at least one of their premises.

For people with access to current generation broadband, marked differences in speed are witnessed. More than a quarter can only use the government's minimum standard of 2Mbps.

The government has made the target that universal broadband coverage should be available by 2015, with 90 per cent of the population in each authority capable of obtaining superfast connections.

However, the FSB wants the coalition to set out a clearer commitment, covering how superfast broadband will be deployed and where gaps in coverage will be located after 2015.

John Walker, national chairman of the FSB, said: "A fast, reliable broadband service is crucial for this wherever a small business may be. However, we are concerned that the divide that currently splits urban and rural areas in terms of their broadband access, will not be resolved by the government's existing commitments."

Mr Walker emphasised that, with the government looking at the private sector to pull the UK economy onto firm ground, it must be ensured that all small firms have the opportunity to grow.

Elsewhere in the British broadband market, BT broadband recently expanded its range of BT Infinity broadband deals to feature a new ultrafast service.

Its new Infinity Option 3 package is based on fibre that is delivered to individual homes, generating faster broadband speeds.

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Fibreband reveals new superfast broadband

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:57:55 +0000

A new superfast service has been introduced by Fibreband.

Fibreband is the first broadband provider to launch superfast connections with CityFibre's fibre-to-the-home network in Bournemouth.

These services offer minimum symmetrical speeds of 10Mbps, so users can upload content at the same speed as it is downloaded. Fibreband has invited 250 households in the BH10 and BH11 postcodes to participate in a trial of the technology.

Adam Troman, general manager of Fibreland, noted that the firm understands the requirements of the Bournemouth public, and wants to offer a service that is the envy of other towns and cities across Britain.

Mr Troman highlighted that the internet offered by CityFibre is unique because it involves the fibre cable being connected directly to properties, providing no compromise to the possible speeds both now and in the future.

He went on to express how impressed he has been with CityFibre's network since Fibreband began working with it earlier this year.

The technology has led to a new true fibre optic infrastructure being introduced in Bournemouth, with a continued rollout across the town anticipated in 2012.

Mark Collins from CityFibre also spoke of the new technology, saying: "It's imperative to CityFibre that we manage this network responsibly. We are really pleased to be now moving onto the next stage and that our first service provider partner Fibreband are launching their services."

Mr Collins stressed that CityFibre made a promise to property owners in Bournemouth that the unfinished work from its predecessors would be completed, which is a commitment that has been kept.

News of the new Bournemouth internet technology follows Ofcom's message that internet service providers should ensure that consumers are conscious of how internet traffic is managed.

The watchdog believes more could be done to increase understanding of the process, which can have an effect on the speed of broadband deals across the UK.

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