The landscape of fibre broadband in the UK is rapidly evolving, with over a fifth of premises now enjoying the choice of two or more fibre broadband providers. This development can be attributed to the efforts of alternative network operators across the country.Recent data from Point Topic reveals that nearly two thirds of UK premises, totaling 20.4 million, now have access to fibre broadband as of March-end.
Indonesia is poised to welcome SpaceX’s Starlink LEO satellite broadband service within the next two weeks, announced Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, the coordinating minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment. According to government sources, Starlink has secured the necessary agreement and license from Indonesian authorities to commence satellite internet operations.
Access to fast and reliable internet is increasingly crucial in today’s society, but while efforts often focus on rural communities, many urban areas are left underserved. Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs) present a particular challenge due to complex installation requirements and regulatory hurdles. MS3 Networks, in partnership with HCC, is spearheading a solution to this issue, granting tenants in MDUs access to a variety of broadband providers.
Come April 10, as Federal Communications Commission’s new rules take effect, ISPs with over 100,000 subscribers will have to display ‘nutrition’ labels detailing broadband plans. These labels will reveal data about costs, speed, privacy, and more – boosting transparency. However, this also poses administrative challenges for ISPs, especially when changes occur.
Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has unveiled a groundbreaking service named ‘smart support’ aimed at automatically monitoring and resolving home network issues for broadband customers. Leveraging Cisco ThousandEyes technology, the innovative system will debut with 300,000 Virgin Media broadband users, with plans for a comprehensive rollout in the future.
Unearthing the UK’s surprising predilection for telephone poles, an ISPA survey reveals 70% of respondents would welcome a new pole for improved broadband. As connectivity takes precedence over visual impact, 75% agreed to poles ensuring excellent broadband, while only 17% disapproved. A noteworthy 37% were indifferent, rarely noticing the poles.
Openreach, UK’s primary broadband provider, is proposing legislations that’ll speed up fibre broadband installations in Multi-Dwelling Units (MDUs). This initiative is due to the lengthy authorizations processes, known as wayleaves, resulting in significant cost. However, critics argue this could infringe on property rights.
RDK Management (RDK) today announced that it has joined the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and that the two organizations’ members plan to collaborate on industry-wide initiatives such as Operator Managed Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7, and IoT. RDK and WBA share many common members across broadband operators and technology companies that are committed to deploying RDK for Broadband (RDK-B).
Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez MP addresses the need for shared infrastructure to tackle excessive fibre network duplication. She spotlights rural areas, where public perception of full fibre deployment is significantly affected by perceived uncontrolled infrastructural rollout. This prompts a change in guidelines to involve communities in the roll-out process, helping operators extend their networks without hindering local approval.
TalkTalk has surged ahead to become the UK’s largest retail fibre broadband provider, boasting a service reach to over 15 million premises, edging out competitors like Vodafone and Zen Internet in the race for the broadest fibre network. This expansion has positioned TalkTalk at the forefront of the UK’s digital infrastructure landscape, despite facing operational hiccups.
