OfcomRSS

UK nears broadband competition milestone

Copper remains dominant in the UK's broadband network

The UK has passed 9 million unbundled broadband lines, according to new figures from watchdog Ofcom.

Orange tops UK’s broadband complaints

Orange continued to disappoint its broadband subs in Q4

The UK’s communications regulator Ofcom has revealed the telcos with the worst customer experience ratings in the country, with Orange generating the most complaints for broadband in the fourth quarter of 2012 and BT receiving the most pay-TV complaints.

Brits zip along at 12Mbps

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Average fixed broadband speeds in the UK are now up to 12 Mbps, compared to 9 Mbps in May 2012, according to new figures from communications regulator Ofcom.

Ofcom considers bill shock legislation

Ofcom has pledged to work with operators to reduce bill shock

Following its review into the causes of bill shock, UK regulator Ofcom has set out an action plan to tackle the problem. The regulator said it will work with the mobile industry on a series of measures to address the main issues identified by the review and if these do not sufficiently reduce damage caused to consumers, Ofcom warned it would consider mandatory options to tackle the problem.

The UK 4G auction: What the industry is saying

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The UK’s four mobile network operators have secured 4G spectrum, along with BT subsidiary Niche Spectrum Ventures.However, much of the discussion following regulator Ofcom’s announcement was around the revenue generated for the public purse. Just £2.34bn was raised; Chancellor George Osborne had hoped to secure £3.5bn from the auction.

Operators still not protecting customers from bill shock

Operators worldwide are not doing enough to protect their customers from bill shock

Mobile operators worldwide are still not doing enough to protect customers from bill shock, despite initiatives by trade association the GSMA and national regulators such as Ofcom in the UK and ACMA in Australia to promote transparency in roaming charges. The majority of mobile operators worldwide (62 per cent) have not yet implemented any form of bill-shock prevention, according to research conducted by cloud-based managed communication services provider Mach.

Two-thirds in favour of greater MNO consolidation

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Almost two thirds of the industry believes that greater consolidation is needed among mobile operators, with support emerging for the concept of single network markets, according to the latest research from Telecoms.com Intelligence.

Broadband goal should be raised to 10Mb says UK regulator director

The UK's baseline broadband speed ambitions should be higher according to an Ofcom director

The baseline for the UK’s broadband universal service commitment of 2Mb is too low and should be raised to 10Mb, a director of UK regulator Ofcom has said, according to a report from V3.

Vodafone hits back at Ofcom’s price control proposal

Vodafone suggested that Ofcom's proposals could raise the cost of service to consumers

UK operator Vodafone has hit back at regulator Ofcom’s suggestion that UK telecoms operators should not be allowed to raise consumer tariffs mid-way through fixed term contracts. Vodafone said that mobile operators are sometimes forced to adjust their prices to reflect changes in charges set by other operators for services such as premium rate or directory enquiries.

UK 4G spectrum award process kicks off

The 4G auction is getting underway

Tuesday marks the next important milestone in the UK’s telecoms market as prospective bidders submit applications for 4G spectrum.

Between 10:00 and 16:00 on December 11, 2012, interested parties are able to submit applications, accompanied by an initial deposit of £100,000 into Ofcom’s bank account. The passing of the deadline takes the UK one step closer to the completion of a highly controversial and long-awaited spectrum action, which is expected to be finalised by February or March next year.

Ofcom sets £1.3bn reserve price for UK LTE auction

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UK regulator Ofcom has released its regulations and schedule for the auction of 800MHz and 2600MHz spectrum to be used for LTE services. The regulator has set a reserve price of £1.3bn for all available spectrum, including 2x15MHz of 1800MHz spectrum that Everything Everywhere is required to divest as part of the deal that saw it cleared to launch LTE at 1800MHz in October.

UK operators create firm to speed up 800MHz LTE

Everything Everywhere, Telefónica O2, 3UK and Vodafone have formed Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited

The UK’s four mobile network operators have formed a company to speed up the deployment of the 800MHz frequency band vacated by the Digital Switchover. Regulator Ofcom announced early October that the spectrum, which will be used to roll out LTE services will be made usable earlier than planned, following peace talks between the UK government, the nation’s operators and the telecommunications regulator Ofcom.

4G in the UK: Timelines settled, now fight for the customers

The UK is finally set to see LTE services launched in the coming weeks

The UK’s 4G saga may have reached its climax in August with Everything Everywhere receiving permission to launch its own LTE network early, but the story isn’t over yet. UK regulator Ofcom announced yesterday that it would move forward the auction for the Digital Dividend creating by switching off analogue TV, and that clearance of TV transmitters will be brought forward by around five months.

Vodafone, O2 could launch LTE in 900MHz band

The UK is finally set to see LTE services launched in the coming weeks

UK regulator Ofcom has said that there is nothing stopping EE’s rivals, such as Vodafone and O2, from putting in an application to alter their 900MHz spectrum licence for LTE usage. A ruling in early 2011 meant that all operators are now free to use their 2G spectrum for 3G services, so extension of that same ruling to encompass 4G would be a small amend.

Delayed arrival of 4G in UK puts nation light years behind

The UK is already seen as Europe’s most complex and fragmented telecoms market

The UK is already seen as Europe’s most complex and fragmented telecoms market and it now looks set to add another unwanted title to its repertoire as that of Europe’s 4G laggard. Europe’s telecoms markets are already dividing into two camps of 4G “haves” and “have-nots” and the UK lies firmly stuck in the latter. The auction proposal set out this week by Ofcom means that the UK will not see 4G LTE services go live until later in 2013 at the earliest, putting UK mobile consumers almost four years behind the world’s leading 4G markets.

Ofcom guarantees LTE spectrum for fourth operator

Ofcom has said that a fourth wholesale operator will be guaranteed LTE spectrum if the reserve price is met

UK regulator Ofcom has unveiled plans for the country’s 4G spectrum auction. The UK has lagged other leading markets and Ofcom has revealed that spectrum will be allocated in 2013. Ofcom has set aside spectrum intended to guarantee the presence of four LTE operators in the UK market.

UK Government has “lost the plot” over LTE

The UK is behind the curve with LTE deployment

The UK Government’s decision not to facilitate the deployment of LTE until 2013 at the earliest is “appalling” and has forced the UK to surrender its position as one of the leading communication markets in the world. This is the judgement of a C-level executive from one of the UK network operators, who asked not to be named.

3UK could hitch ride on EE’s proposed LTE1800 network

3UK reveals it could strike agreement with Everything Everywhere

3UK’s CEO David Dyson has suggested that the operator could strike an agreement with Everything Everywhere to launch LTE using the T-Mobile/Orange JV’s spectrum in advance of the UK’s 4G auction.

Everything Everywhere campaigns for 4G approval

Everything Everywhere has commissioned research to back its bid to lauinch 4G services in the UK this year

UK operator Everything Everywhere is campaigning for permission to launch 4G services before its domestic competitors. To support its plea to regulator Ofcom, the operator has commissioned research that outlines the “significant economic and social benefits” that will come about by bringing 4G to the UK.

Ofcom: Shot by both sides

Could the UK become a single network market?

It’s pretty safe to say that if you get three mobile operators in a room to talk about spectrum auctions, they won’t agree about much. But what they are likely to agree on is that it’s the regulator’s fault, whatever it is.

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