BT breaks record for fastest ever broadband January 22, 2014 Alcatel-Lucent and BT have achieved the fastest ever broadband speeds in real world conditions. The speeds of 1.4 terabits (Tbps) per second were recorded in a field test conducted on a 255 mile fibre cable between the BT tower and Ipswich. The trial recorded spectral efficiency of 5.7 bits per second per Hertz. This is [...]
Bitcoin bears outnumber bugs four to one January 22, 2014 Close to half of international investors are bearish on Bitcoin, according to a Bloomberg Global Poll. 47 per cent of those polled said they would sell the digital currency, with only 11 per cent saying they would buy it. Seven per cent said they would hold the cryptocurrency and 35 per cent said they did [...]
EU backs down on binding targets for renewable energy January 22, 2014 The EU has confirmed that it will not set binding national targets for renewable energy provision. The announcement came as the European Commission set out its plans to tackle climate change over the next 16 years. Countries such as the UK and Poland had lobbied strongly against binding renewable targets, arguing the measures would drive [...]
Britain defeated as ECJ upholds ban on short selling January 22, 2014 Britain's attempt to overturn the EU's ban on short selling of shares in market emergencies has ended in failure after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) dismissed the case. The UK had argued that the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) was given greater discretion than was justifiable under EU law. The court rejected all [...]
Wetherspoons slams pub taxes as sales improve January 22, 2014 Pub chain JD Wetherspoon has used its pre-close statement to strongly criticise what it regards as an unfair tax regime: The pub industry continues to pay far higher taxes than supermarkets do, mainly as a result of an unequal and unfair VAT and business rates burden. This tax inequality has greatly widened the pricing differential [...]
Walkie Scorchie owner rides development boom January 22, 2014 The owner of the Walkie Talkie tower (aka Walkie Scorchie), Land Securities, has reported strong activity in developments and occupancy, according to its third quarter interim management statement. The UK's largest commercial property owner also said it expects to submit a planning application next month for its solution to "the solar glare issue" afflicting the [...]
Internet speed for commuters to skyrocket after Ofcom decision January 21, 2014 Passengers on boats, planes and trains are set to enjoy broadband speeds 10-times faster than they currently experience following Ofcom's approval of a new satellite-based technology. The new devices called earth stations will be mounted on vehicles and provide internet to passengers by connecting to a geostationary satellite. The telecoms regulator is also making available [...]
Tougher regulation could see a fifth of bookies losing money says JP Morgan January 21, 2014 A fifth of Britain's betting shops could become unprofitable if further regulations are imposed on the gambling industry, according to a research note from JP Morgan. A further 20 per cent of shops could become only marginally profitable if measures such as limits to the number fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) and the size of [...]
Hollande suffers set back as employers reject jobs targets January 21, 2014 France's largest employers group has confirmed it will not agree to government hiring targets outlined in the so called "responsibility pact" proposed by President Francois Hollande. Medef president Pierre Gatz told France 2 television: I am not talking about written commitments. One million jobs, that is the consequence of the package of measures we expect [...]
Carphone Warehouse sticks to full-year guidance despite falling sales January 21, 2014 Carphone Warehouse announced today a 3.1 per cent like-for-like revenue increase in the third quarter. Europe's biggest independent mobile phone retailer suffered further losses in the pre-pay phone market but managed to achieve a sixth quarter of like-for-like revenue growth. The London-listed group's Virgin Mobile France saw revenue decline year-on-year by 15.6 per cent, reflecting [...]
