Orange SA misses expectations but gets profit boost from EE sale July 26, 2016 Orange SA – France's largest telecoms company – has posted a sharp rise in its first-half profits due to the sale of its UK network EE to BT. Net profit climbed to €3.17bn (£2.65bn) in the first half, pushed higher from the £12.5bn EE sale. Revenue also climbed thanks to strong sales growth in Spain. It rose by 2.7 per cent to €20.8bn. [...]
BT proposes setting up independent board for Openreach to stave off break-up July 25, 2016 BT has offered to appoint an independent board and chairman to run its Openreach infrastructure arm, handing the division fresh powers ahead of the launch of a regulator consultation tomorrow. The move appears to be an attempt to appease rivals and prevent the break-up of the group. BT chairman Mike Rake said forcing separation was not the right way to go [...]
Watchdog set to crack down on BT’s Openreach July 25, 2016 The telecoms watchdog Ofcom will tomorrow unveil new service targets and reforms for BT’s infrastructure arm Openreach. The latest step in Ofcom’s long-running Strategic Review of Digital Communications is expected to result in further autonomy for the division but will stop short of full separation. Ofcom will tomorrow morning open its interim findings to consultation — [...]
More broadband problems for BT customers July 21, 2016 BT said it is close to resolving more internet connection issues reported by customers today – and said a power cut at another of its partner's sites had led to service problems. The telecoms provider said: “We’re sorry that some BT and Plusnet customers are having problems connecting to some internet services this morning. "This is [...]
Problems for BT broadband users across the UK: Services restored after usage problems this morning July 20, 2016 BT said this afternoon that it had fixed the broadband problems that affected around 10 per cent of its internet customers this morning. "We’re sorry that some BT and Plusnet customers experienced problems accessing some internet services this morning," the group said. "Around 10 per cent of customers’ internet usage was affected following power issues at [...]
Liberty Global remains committed to Virgin broadband investment post-Brexit July 20, 2016 Virgin Media owner Liberty Global remains committed to investing in the UK following the vote for Brexit and will begin the next stage of a multi-billion pound investment in the UK's broadband infrastructure network. Nearly half a million new premises in London will get superfast broadband by 2018, creating 500 new jobs by the end of this [...]
BT needs to be open about Openreach aims July 20, 2016 When it comes to Openreach, the arm of BT that runs the UK's cables, fibre and network infrastructure, the telecoms giant is hovering outside the door of the last chance saloon. On the eve of a pivotal decision on the future of Openreach, MPs on the culture and media select committee have upped the ante [...]
MPs slam BT: “Put house in order or face split” July 19, 2016 BT has been told to put its "house in order" or face a split by a leading group of MPs. The telecoms firm has been accused of "significantly under investing" in its Openreach broadband, potentially to the tune of millions of pounds a year and of favouring "interests and priorities" of shareholders over customers. An investigation [...]
BT under pressure from Ofcom to offer discount services to pensioners and poorest families July 17, 2016 BT is under pressure from the regulator to offer a discounted service to pensioners and low income families. The firm wants to move to internet-based voice calls, and away from traditional telephone lines. This would be relatively low-cost and allow BT to make savings, The Telegraph reported. Read more: Telecom giants come to blows over airwaves But Ofcom [...]