Josh Etheridge, co-owner of a Louisiana broadband firm, warns that delays in the BEAD program are crippling rural infrastructure progress. His company, ready since January, has laid off workers and halted projects. Etheridge urges federal action, saying communities and jobs hang in the balance while bureaucratic slowdowns stall critical broadband deployment.
A new Opensignal report highlights EE, Vodafone, and Plusnet as leaders in UK broadband performance. The study shows these providers excel in Consistent Quality, Reliability, and Video Experience across both superfast and ultrafast services, with ultrafast connections offering the most reliable results.
Project Kuiper by Amazon is poised to revolutionize the broadband landscape with its Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite launch, directly challenging Starlink. With over 3,200 satellites and telecom partnerships, Kuiper promises high-speed, low-latency internet worldwide. This development is a significant contender in the growing LEO broadband market.
T-Mobile’s joint venture with EQT to acquire Lumos marks a strategic leap in expanding T-Mobile’s broadband offerings. By transitioning Lumos customers to T-Mobile Fiber, this acquisition positions T-Mobile as a formidable player in fiber services. The $950 million investment aims to enhance network expansion.
Quickline has secured £11 million in public funding to expand its Project Gigabit rollout, bringing full fibre broadband to 6,000 more homes and businesses in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This investment supports the UK government’s goal of nationwide high-speed internet, ensuring even rural areas gain access.
Ofcom is accelerating the UK’s full-fibre broadband rollout, aiming for 96% coverage by 2027. With access rising from 25% in 2019 to nearly 70% today, the regulator seeks to maintain momentum. Industry leaders welcome the push for competition and investment, ensuring faster, more reliable internet and positioning the UK as a leader in digital connectivity.
The UK government has awarded £289 million in Project Gigabit contracts to Openreach, boosting rural broadband access for 131,000 remote homes and businesses. This investment supports fibre-to-the-home networks in underserved areas, enhancing digital opportunities and promoting equity.
Amazon is set to disrupt the UK’s satellite broadband market with Project Kuiper, aiming to rival Starlink’s dominance. By deploying over 3,200 satellites targeting underserved areas, Amazon seeks to revolutionize connectivity.
The EU is advancing its satellite broadband network, IRIS², to rival Starlink. With a €10.6 billion budget, the constellation of 300 satellites will deliver secure communications across Europe and Africa by 2030.
Quickline’s launch of a telecoms apprenticeship program is revolutionizing rural broadband through skills development. The initial cohort of apprentices enrich Quickline’s operations, gaining practical experience and enhancing gigabit broadband delivery in rural Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
