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 — [...]
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 [...]
Even those EU referendum mail campaigns failed to push up Royal Mail’s letter volumes – but parcels rose July 19, 2016 It's a sign of the times that even one of the most controversial direct mail campaigns of recent years couldn't push up Royal Mail's letter volumes. Good job parcels were looking healthier… The figures In a trading statement today, Royal Mail said group revenue was up one per cent in the three months to the end of [...]
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 [...]
Blockchain startup claims funding “milestone” and big name board members July 15, 2016 London-based blockchain startup Setl has named two new high-profile board members after closing its first private funding round. Rachel Lomax, the former deputy governor of the Bank of England, and Ed Richards, the former chief executive of broadcast regulator Ofcom, have joined ex-Barclays chairman Sir David Walker on the board. Setl also said it would be [...]
These are the next areas that will get Virgin Media’s speedy fibre-to-the-premises broadband July 12, 2016 Virgin Media has named the next 30 rural communities which will gain access to its fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network. The areas are expected to be connectable via full fibre by spring 2017 and is the next stage of Virgin Media's Supercharging Local Communities initiative, part of its £3bn Project Lightning network. It's aiming to bring 300 mega-bits-per-second broadband to small businesses located outside major towns and cities. Virgin [...]
Telecom giants come to blows over airwaves July 11, 2016 An upcoming radio spectrum auction has become the latest battle ground for the UK’s warring telcos. Network operator Three, owned by China’s CK Hutchison, has called on the telecoms industry regulator Ofcom to limit how much of the radio spectrum its rivals can own. Three’s chief executive Dave Dyson wants the regulator to prevent any [...]
Ofcom: Sky garners few complaints across broadband, TV, mobile and telephone, but BT, EE, Plusnet fare badly July 8, 2016 Things aren't getting much better. The total number of complaints made to Ofcom in between the last three months of 2015 and the first three months of 2016 was stable – though, to be fair, there was a slight decline in pay-monthly mobile complaints. Sky consistently got less complaints than the industry average, while Virgin [...]