ofcom
Latest
Ofcom's spectrum licence fee increases: The carrier backlash begins
The UK's big four mobile providers -- EE, O2, Vodafone and Three -- woke up to a figurative punch in the gut this morning. Telecoms regulator Ofcom announced its final decision on increases to spectrum licence fees, and collectively, the carriers are looking at an annual bill of almost £200 million, compared with the £64.4 million they currently pay. The jump is said to realise the true financial worth of the mobile spectrum each provider licences; as the regulator puts it, spectrum "is a valuable and finite resource, and the new fees reflect that value." Ofcom's decision is set in stone, and mobile service providers have to come up with the money if they hope to continue, you know, providing mobile service. We can only speculate on how it'll play out, but you'd have to be incredibly optimistic to think consumers aren't going to be on the hook for at least some of the inflated bill. At this point, damage control and blame shifting are of primary importance to everyone involved. The backlash begins...
Bills could rise as Ofcom triples UK carriers' licence fees
After toying with the idea of quadrupling the amount providers must pay for mobile spectrum for almost two years, UK communications regulator Ofcom has finally arrived at a decision. It announced today that the big four -- EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three -- will now pay a total of £199.6 million annually for their allocations of the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands, more than triple the £64.4 million they currently have to hand over.
BT promises 300Mbps broadband for 10 million homes by 2020
BT's chief executive Gavin Patterson has emerged today with a laundry list of promises designed to improve broadband speeds, coverage and public confidence in the UK. First up is a commitment to a new, minimum broadband speed of 5-10Mbps, which the company claims will be enough for people to "enjoy popular internet services like high definition video." The idea to push for a minimum standard was actually introduced by the UK government earlier this year. BT's involvement is a crucial statement of support, although at the moment there's no timeframe as to when it'll be introduced or even feasible. There's also the matter of the speeds themselves -- 5Mbps, most would argue, isn't enough to support a family or a group of flatmates that regularly use the internet simultaneously.
Ofcom tells mobile networks to sort out their customer service
Mobile networks have a lousy reputation when it comes to customer service. The moment you walk into a store it's all smiles and pleasantries, but once you're an established subscriber the experience can quickly sour. If anything goes wrong with your account or network access, or you want to switch provider, calling a company representative can be a gruelling, stressful experience. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, experienced an uptick in customer complaints between May and July this year. The numbers aren't unprecedented, but clearly Ofcom wants the situation to improve, not deteriorate. To that end, it's been meeting with carriers to "discuss their customer services practices and to drive improvements in behaviour." That's not an entirely new step for the regulator -- it's held similar talks in the past -- but the timing here could be particularly important.
Labour party joins calls for BT and Openreach breakup
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is currently reviewing whether BT and Openreach, a subsidiary which manages most of the UK's broadband infrastructure, should be left alone or separated entirely. Sky and TalkTalk have already expressed their views -- unsurprisingly, they want the pair split up -- and now they've got another supporter in the Labour party. Chris Bryant, the shadow culture secretary, says Openreach and the government are delivering broadband "too slow, too late." In the Telegraph, he argues that Ofcom should work on the basis that Openreach needs to be "split from the rest of BT, unless their review produces conclusive evidence to the contrary." It's not an unwavering stance, but it's clear the Labour party favours reform. BT will need to do more interviews like the one below if it's to prove the current arrangement is in the public interest.
Compare all UK networks with Ofcom's mobile coverage checker
Between price, data allowances and customer perks, there are plenty of things to consider when choosing a new mobile plan. But all of that research is moot if the carrier you end up choosing has poor coverage in your area. The four major providers -- EE, Three, O2 and Vodafone -- offer coverage maps to help inform your decision, but ever the people's champion, Ofcom's gone one better. Today, the telecoms regulator launched the "Mobile Coverage Checker," an online tool that pools data from all four carriers and some of its own intel to provide a comprehensive overview of signal strength across the UK. Simply whack in a postcode, and the tool will show you what level of 2G, 3G and 4G coverage you can expect, both indoors and outdoors, on any of the major networks. The map can apply to smaller MVNOs, too, provided you know what provider they're allied to. Ofcom is hoping users will also provide feedback on their local coverage to help improve the new tool, with an updated version slated for release this autumn.
Smartphones become the most popular device for keeping Brits connected
It was only a matter of time, but smartphones are now officially the UK's most popular internet-connected device. For the first time, more people are choosing smartphones to get online than laptops, according to stats published today in Ofcom's annual Communications Market Report. Smartphones are now considered the most important way of staying connected by 33 percent of Brits, with 30 percent preferring their laptops. That's a significant change from last year, when laptops were favoured by 40 percent of people and smartphones by only 22 percent. This coincides with smartphones also becoming the most widely owned web-connected device, with a presence in 66 percent of households compared with a 65 percent figure for laptops. Shipments of PCs have been declining for many years as mobile devices have become increasingly popular windows onto the web, and in the UK, tablet ownership is growing faster than anything else. In another first, Ofcom notes that over half of UK households (54 percent, to be exact) now have at least slate for the family to poke at.
Don't like your mobile carrier? Ofcom wants to help you switch
When your contract is up and you're toying with switching to another carrier, the hassle of porting over your number might stop you from actually following through. UK communications regulator Ofcom realises that, so today it's outlining plans to improve mobile switching by putting the onus back on the carrier. As part of its consultation, the watchdog is taking feedback on whether it should force operators to scrap PAC codes and remove the need for consumers to initiate the switch, exactly like it's now doing with broadband contracts.
Ofcom invites suggestions on how to handle BT and Openreach
When Ofcom announced its new "Strategic Review of Digital Communications," the last of which forced BT to create Openreach, Sky and TalkTalk immediately came forward calling for both businesses to be broken up once and for all. Today, the regulator has published a discussion document for the review which details the different approaches now under consideration. Nothing has been left off the table, it seems -- they include keeping the current model, strengthening the controls that keep BT and Openreach's relationship in check, substantial market deregulation and, finally, complete separation.
BT goes on the offensive against Sky's pay-TV dominance
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is currently taking a long, hard look at BT and its subsidiary Openreach, which is responsible for managing the company's broadband infrastructure. Ofcom's deciding whether it's in everyone's best interests to split the two completely, a move championed by several of BT's broadband competitors, Sky in particular. Recently, Sky published a report to further this agenda, using various stats to support its claim that Openreach provides an inadequate service that reflects badly on the companies using its network for their broadband products. It appears that BT has grown tired of being permanently on the defensive, and has today called for Ofcom to investigate Sky's dominant position in the pay TV market, which BT claims is lumbering Brits with unfairly high prices.
999 services must embrace texts and apps, says report
While technology has helped the UK's emergency services evolve, people in need are largely required to report incidents by calling 999. It's an adequate solution for the majority of cases, but if someone is the victim of a break-in, picking up the phone just isn't feasible. That's why the the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the world's biggest professional engineering institution, is calling for some modernisation. It argues that in a world where smartphones, messaging apps and social media services are widespread, letting Brits text 999 in a time of need could save more lives by allowing for faster responses.
EE fined £1 million for not properly dealing with complaints
As part of its job as the communications industry regulator, Ofcom routinely checks to see if UK mobile carriers are doing a good job of looking after their customers. This includes how they log complaints and what they do once they've received them. After almost three years of investigation, the watchdog announced today that Britain's (current) largest operator, EE, hasn't properly handled customer complaints and has issued it with a £1 million fine.
0800 numbers are now free to call from mobiles
Before dialling an unfamiliar service number, many of us feel an overwhelming sense of dread. Not just for 0800 and 0808 "freephone" numbers, which are now free to call from a mobile, but numbers starting with 084, 087 and 09 too. From experience, you know what they represent: expensive call charges. Worse yet, it's almost impossible to know how much you'll be spending. When the latter are advertised on TV, you'll usually hear something along the lines of: "Calls cost 50p from a BT landline. Other landlines may vary and calls from mobiles may cost considerably more." It's confusing because the costs vary wildly depending on your operator and the number you're calling, and neither charge is explained properly in advance. Most of us just dial the number anyway and hope for the best, or try to avoid the call entirely. It's a mess, but from today everything is going to change. Ofcom has introduced a new system that makes call charges simpler to figure out.
Sky uses stats to explain why BT and Openreach should split
It's no secret that Sky wants BT and Openreach split up. When Ofcom announced its new review of the UK telecommunications industry, the broadcaster said "structural separation" was vital to address what it perceives as a conflict of interest. Now that the investigation is underway, Sky has published its submission in full with a crucial recommendation: to upgrade the case to a "market investigation reference" with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The company argues that the relationship between BT and Openreach is reducing competition and limiting providers like Sky with its inadequate service. Were the CMA to set up its own inquiry, it could, depending on the outcome, lead to a forced separation of BT and Openreach -- something both parties are keen to avoid.
BT doesn't want the burden of building landlines anymore
BT has asked Ofcom to relax requirements imposed on its Openreach network arm to provide traditional telephone services, with the expectation VoIP systems "will be used nationwide by 2025." Currently, Openreach is mandated by Ofcom to build and maintain equipment that provides fixed-line phone service at its exchanges, a regulation BT sees as outdated. According to BT, rules have "not kept up with the massive growth in competition and rapid pace of technology change over the last decade," and relaxing them "would improve efficiency, stimulate competition, and encourage investment." As BT's CEO Gavin Patterson said in May, "replacing legacy networks and platforms" will allow the company to cut costs and focus on internet services.
Switching your broadband supplier just got really easy
When Ofcom announced that consumers can ditch their contract if broadband speeds aren't as advertised, it also said it would also make changing providers even easier. This new "one touch" process comes into effect today, finally putting the responsibility of switching onto the company you wish to join. Under the new system, canceling your contract is a thing of the past (if you haven't agreed to a minimum term) and as long as your new provider requires a BT phone line, like EE, Sky and TalkTalk do, then they will handle the rest.
Sony hack 'caused' f-bombs to go out on British daytime TV
Did you know that the Sony hack, amongst other things, caused scores of British children to hear some salty language on TV? That's what the UK's telecommunications authority believes after the company showed the adults-only version of a classic film in the early afternoon. Sony-owned channel Movie Mix showed the Paul Newman courtroom drama The Verdict on December 14th, and in one scene, characters drop f-bombs as if they were candy wrappers. The excuse for such flagrant sweariness was that when Sony's servers were hacked, a nefarious type had "erased" the safe-for-daytime-viewing version of the flick, with the unedited version taking its place.
Slow broadband? Ofcom says you can ditch your contract
While the UK's broadband coverage is expanding, its infrastructure is only maintained by a few providers. With little overlap, some areas suffer from a lack of investment, which often means that speeds are lower than advertised. Those affected have previously had little choice but to put up with it, but a new ruling from communications regulator Ofcom could change that. The watchdog has announced that it will let consumers escape broadband contracts if speeds "fall below expected levels."
Ofcom plans to auction more 4G spectrum later this year
Ofcom is planning a fresh spectrum auction that will improve 4G coverage later this year. The regulator has 190 MHz to allocate to the major mobile networks, and today it's launched a consultation with possible auction formats. The concern is that some of the biggest carriers are undergoing mergers -- BT is buying EE, while the owner of Three UK is trying to acquire O2. if Ofcom awards all of the spectrum now, the balance of power could change unexpectedly if the deals don't proceed as planned. However, it could be six months before they're approved, and even longer before the transactions are completed, and the regulator doesn't want to waste any time putting the spectrum to good use.
UK government torn over plans to censor 'extremist' TV shows
The Home Secretary Theresa May wants to give Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, the ability to block shows with extremist content before they're shown on TV. The Queen's Speech will detail some of the Conservative government's legislative plans next week, and it's already been confirmed that Ofcom will be given "a strengthened role" to tackle broadcasters perceived to be showing extremist content. The new powers will be part of a new Counter-Extremism Bill which includes immigration restrictions for extremists and the power to close premises where extremists are thought to be influencing others.
