UK to test white space technology October 2, 2013 Ofcom has announced that the UK is to be one of the first countries in the world to test white space technology. 20 public and private organisations will be participating in Ofcom's pilot program in the next six months. White spaces are the gaps in the frequency band used to broadcast digital terrestrial TV. Ofcom [...]
Inside Track: More than one elephant in the Royal Mail sorting room September 25, 2013 IT’S NOT hard to identify the biggest of the elephantine threats to Royal Mail’s imminent stock market listing, which heralds the most contentious privatisation since the 1980s. With unions poised to ballot members over the prospect of industrial action within weeks, the prospect of a multi-day walkout at the precise time that the company’s shares [...]
Tesco enters the tablet market with £119 Hudl September 23, 2013 GROCERY giant Tesco unveiled its first foray into the consumer electronics market yesterday with the £119 Hudl tablet. Tesco said launching a tablet is an important step, “meeting the 21st century needs of customers”. The tablet’s price point missed analyst’s expectations, coming in above the £99 that was predicted last week. While the launch will [...]
Media groups seek improved service from BT Openreach September 22, 2013 BT OPENREACH, the infrastructure arm of the telecom giant used by BSkyB, TalkTalk and others to run their home phone and broadband offerings, has been labelled “consistently poor” by those who rely on the service. Ofcom, which is closing a consultation on BT Openreach’s performance on Wednesday, has been inundated with complaints from the industry. [...]
Ofcom will take over delayed auction of 4G September 15, 2013 THE MINISTRY of Defence (MOD) will delay the sale of valuable 4G spectrum to mobile operators by two years as it hands over management of the sale to Ofcom, the MOD has announced. The minister for defence equipment, support and technology, Philip Dunne, quoted Ofcom’s experience in handling similar auctions as the reason for the [...]
Desmond slams TV regulations September 12, 2013 NORTHERN & Shell founder Richard Desmond warned yesterday that public service broadcasters (PSBs) – the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 – are being over regulated in the current broadcasting marketplace. “I am fine with regulation where it is fair and flexible, but if it limits growth… and ultimately fails the viewer, then in [...]
Business services firm of the year September 10, 2013 In an uncertain economy, companies that are willing to try something different – be that a new management team, an innovative business structure or a better use of technology – are the ones that tend to succeed. This category’s nominees live up to the best of these business services. ODGERS BERNDTSON Some of the biggest [...]
EE’s advantage grows with 1m 4G customers September 9, 2013 MOBILE operator Everything Everywhere (EE) yesterday announced that more than 1m customers are now on its 4G mobile network. The news came just after rival networks O2 and Vodafone launched their own 4G services last week. EE, which owns Orange and T-Mobile, originally set a target of reaching 1m 4G customers by the end of [...]
Why Britain’s 4G roll-out could give mobile trading a performance boost September 3, 2013 But the implications of taking positions on the move have yet to reach their logical conclusion COMPETITION has arrived in the UK’s 4G market, promising superfast download speeds on the move. Previously monopolised by the operator EE, O2 and Vodafone have just rolled out 4G mobile internet connections to their customers in London, with O2 [...]
Three ups price war with free 4G subscriptions August 29, 2013 THE UK’S smallest mobile network, Three, yesterday threw down the gauntlet to its bigger rivals as it announced plans to launch its super fast 4G in December – and offer the service free to existing subscribers. Three’s offering will join O2 and Vodafone, which launched competing 4G networks yesterday, and Everything Everywhere (EE), whose high speed network [...]