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UK broadband customers also affected by Yahoo hack
Yahoo might not be quite as big in the UK as it is in the US, but that doesn't mean the shockwaves from the company's enormous hack won't be felt on the both sides of the Atlantic. In total, 500 million users were affected by the 2014 breach, which was only confirmed yesterday, and some of those accounts may belong to people who use email services provided by UK broadband and TV providers BT and Sky.
Fix Britain's Internet: ISPs campaign to tear BT and Openreach apart
After reviewing the tangled relationship between BT and its broadband infrastructure subsidiary Openreach for more than a year, Ofcom yesterday put forward its plan to create a greater distinction between the two businesses. Under the proposals, Openreach would become "a legally separate company," whilst remaining under the BT Group umbrella; a move Ofcom says is the most cost-effective and least disruptive way of giving Openreach greater independence. But -- surprise, surprise -- BT competitors, which are also Openreach customers, believe Ofcom hasn't gone far enough.
EE begins offering six free months of BT Sport
The new football season is almost upon us, what with Wimbledon, the Euros and the Tour de France out of the way. (Of course, there's still the small matter of the Olympics and Paralympics.) As promised, EE is giving its subscribers better access to the action through a six-month trial of BT Sport. To sign up, text "Sport" to 150 from an EE smartphone, or call customer services. The only caveat is that you have to be a pay monthly (phone, tablet or SIM-only) subscriber -- sorry, pay-as-you-go customers.
Android will now automatically send your location to 999 operators
When you call 999, operators need to know exactly where an emergency is before they can dispatch the required service. That information can be difficult to share if you're in unfamiliar surroundings but a new update coming to Android will take all of the guesswork out of locating where you are. It's called the Emergency Location Service and it uses available WiFi connections, GPS and mobile masts to pinpoint your location and share it with an operator while you're speaking with them.
Ofcom orders BT to make Openreach a 'legally separate company'
Ofcom has drawn up a plan to further distance BT and its subsidiary, Openreach, without breaking them up entirely. The UK regulator is now proposing that Openreach, which manages the bulk of the nation's broadband and telephone infrastructure, become "a legally separate company" within the BT Group, with its own board and directors. Most of these appointments would, under Ofcom's vision, be non-executives and "not affiliated to (the) BT Group in any way." They would, however, be selected and removed by BT, following consultation with Ofcom.
BT down: this is why your broadband isn't working
If you're trying to get online with BT Broadband today, you might experience some problems. The provider has confirmed that it's suffering from network issues that are affecting BT but also PlusNet subscribers across the UK. Website reporting service Down Detector has collated thousands of complaints from across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Leeds, Leicester, Bristol and Nottingham. It's not the best timing: MPs only said yesterday that BT needs to its 'house in order' or face being split from its Openreach business.
MPs tell BT to get its 'house in order' or face Openreach split
In the latest development in the BT/Openreach saga, a panel of cross-party MPs has called for the provider to be split from its broadband division if it doesn't invest significantly more in UK infrastructure. In a report, the Culture, Media and Sport Committee argues that Openreach could be spending "hundreds of millions of pounds a year," but BT's current approach is "sacrificing shareholder value and public benefits."
EE customers to get six months of free BT Sport
With Euro 2016 now over and Cristiano Ronaldo's tears dry on his winning face, the focus is now back on domestic campaigns and the start of the most lucrative Premier League season in history. The first matches kick off in just under a month but today BT and EE have announced a new deal that will offer free access to all BT Sport channels for six months.
BT's Smart Hub router promises stronger, more reliable WiFi
While it's possible to buy and install your own router, most people stick with the one supplied by their Internet Service Provider (ISP). Most are drab and generally underwhelming, both from a design and performance standpoint (please Google, bring your OnHub routers to the UK). BT's Home Hub 5, however, is considered to be better than most. Now, the company wants to build on that reputation with the Smart Hub, a new router that promises a stronger, more reliable WiFi signal at home.
BT Mobile begins offering handset plans
BT's acquisition of EE clearly hasn't dampened the company's aspirations to become a mobile player in its own right. BT waded back into the space over a year ago now, with a simple selection of 12-month, SIM-only plans. It appears, however, that was just the beginning. Today, BT Mobile grows into a more fully featured provider, as it's begun offering an assortment of smartphones on two-year, pay-monthly contracts. It's not the widest range, but BT's filled the virtual shelves with a number of popular devices from Apple and Samsung, including their latest flagships, and a couple from Sony for good measure, headlined by the new Xperia X.
The story of EE has been turned into a book
Nothing says summer like lying on a beach and getting stuck into a good book. But what to read? A 19th century classic, or perhaps Murakami's latest surrealist tale? What about the fascinating story of how mobile provider EE came to be? Well, look no further than The 4G Mobile Revolution: Creation, Innovation and Transformation at EE, penned by former network CEO Olaf Swantee and now departed comms director Stu Jackson.
BT's football final coverage attracts 3 million on YouTube
BT Sport's YouTube experiment turned out to be quite successful. As the Guardian reports, the broadcaster attracted three million people to its live coverage of the Champions League and Europa League finals on the platform. Anyone in the UK was able to watch these streams, regardless of whether or not they were a BT Sport subscriber. It was offered alongside BT Sport Showcase, a free-to-watch Freeview channel that BT is forced to provide as part of its Champions League and Europa League TV rights deal. It was the first time both finals have been shown for free on YouTube.
UK government sets new target for superfast broadband rollout
The government has today committed to a new target in its state-subsidised broadband program, aiming to deliver "superfast" internet to 97 percent of homes and businesses before the end of 2019. As The Telegraph reports, this means another half a million underserved premises should expect connections of at least 24 Mbps as part of the new plan. This is in addition to meeting the current goal of getting lines to 95 percent of the UK by the end of next year, with 90 percent already covered.
BT to stream Champions League and Europa League finals on YouTube
BT will broadcast coverage of both the UEFA Champions League and Europa League finals for free on YouTube. The company confirmed today that it will show both matches, which kick off on May 28th and May 18th respectively, on BT Sport TV channels across Sky, Virgin, YouView and Freeview, but will also give UK streamers (it won't be available worldwide) the opportunity to view the action via the official BT Sport YouTube channel.
TalkTalk TV to offer BT Sport channels
TalkTalk, like Virgin Media, doesn't hold the rights to any live sport in the UK. Instead, the company has to hash out deals with other broadcasters, such as Sky and BT, to offer its subscribers new channels and coverage. TalkTalk TV customers can already pay extra for Sky Sports, but today the company announced that a BT Sport package is also being added to the mix. The price of the bolt-on subscription is yet to be determined, but TalkTalk has confirmed that it will include BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2, BT Sport Europe and BT Sport ESPN. Notably, there's no BT Sport Ultra HD.
BT pledges £6 billion for superfast broadband and 4G upgrades
In its first set of financial results since it absorbed EE, the UK's biggest mobile operator, BT has made a fresh commitment to improving broadband and 4G connectivity across Britain. After seeing profits rise more than nine percent to £3.4 billion, the company says it is to spend £6 billion on improving its services, which will include extending its superfast broadband coverage to 12 million homes and delivering LTE to 95 percent of the UK by 2020.
BT is raising prices for (almost) everyone in July
If you enjoy BT's phone, broadband or TV services, you can expect those packages to get a little more expensive in the coming months. According to The Guardian, the provider has announced a series of inflation-busting price increases, which will its see standard broadband rise from £13 to £15 and its £25-per-month superfast fibre connections go up by an average of £2.05 from July 3rd. However, BT says it will boost download allowances by 20 percent to make up for it.
BT boosts entry-level fibre broadband speeds to 52Mbps
In its mission to supply the UK with faster broadband, BT has announced a new speed upgrade for Infinity fibre customers. New and existing entry-level subscribers can now enjoy up to 52Mbps, a 32 percent increase from their previous 38Mbps connection. BT is keen to advertise that the new Infinity 1 package gives customers faster speeds than similar packages from Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin. Sky and TalkTalk share the same Openreach networks as BT, meaning that it'll only be a matter of time until they launch their own 52Mbps packages. While Virgin Media's basic offering comes in slightly lower than BT at 50Mbps, its business plans reach a whopping 300Mbps, compared to Infinity 2's 78Mbps.
Ofcom won't split BT and Openreach, but there will be changes
For almost a year, communications regulator Ofcom has been conducting an investigation into whether BT and its Openreach broadband arm should be split up. Rival companies like Sky, TalkTalk and even the Labour party joined calls for it to be spun out in order to improve connectivity across Britain, and today they got their answer: Openreach is safe, at least for now. In an announcement this morning, Ofcom confirmed that while BT and Openreach would be allowed to operate in tandem, tighter controls are needed to ensure that its networks offer the best service to customers.
BT Broadband goes down across the UK
If you're a BT customer and you're experiencing issues with your broadband connection, you are not alone. The company has confirmed its internet service is suffering from network issues, which is affecting subscribers across the UK. BT's websites also appear to be down, which is stopping some users from being able to check the status of their connection.
