Tag: OFCOM
Quarter of mobile phone users make less than 5 calls a month – Ofcom
A quarter of mobile phone users make less than five standard calls a month, while 6% make none at all, latest Ofcom figures show. Of those who did make calls, 60% ended their conversation in less than 90 seconds, according to the regulator’s Mobile Matters report. The study of how around 150,000 people used their…
Broadband firms pledge price cuts over ‘loyalty penalties’
The UK’s biggest broadband companies have committed to cutting prices for out-of-contract and vulnerable customers amid concerns over so-called “loyalty penalties” across the sector. Ofcom said BT, Sky and TalkTalk will allow their out-of-contract customers to get the same deals as new customers when they take out a new contract. Sky will limit the difference…
Ofcom approves BBC plan to extend iPlayer catch-up option
Ofcom has approved the BBC’s plan to extend the iPlayer catch-up window to 12 months, subject to “certain conditions and guidance”. The broadcaster intends to change iPlayer from a 30-day catch-up service to make programmes available for 12 months as standard, with some available for longer.All children’s programming will be available for five years under the…
Half of people get news from social media, Ofcom claims
Half of UK adults get their news from social media, according to research. But social media platforms tend to be rated least favourably for quality, accuracy, trustworthiness and impartiality, Ofcom found. The regulator’s annual news consumption report said that TV remains the most popular platform for accessing news, at 75%, but usage has decreased from 79%…
How do I switch mobile provider with text message?
Mobile users across the UK can now switch network provider via text message in a move aimed at simplifying the process. Here is how customers can go about changing: Why are these changes happening? The changes have been introduced by telecoms regulator Ofcom with the aim of making it less hassle for people to switch…
Broadband speeds up nearly 20% to over 50Mbit/s across UK
Average broadband speeds received by UK households have risen by almost 20% in the last year, Ofcom has reported. The average download speed has passed the 50 Mbit/s mark, rising by 18% in the last year to 54.2 Mbit/s, according to the regulator’s Home Broadband Speeds report. The report, which compares the speeds of different…
Vodafone turns old phone boxes into 4G hubs along Cornish coast
Dog and bone: Vodafone is converting old phone boxes into 4G hubs Disused phone boxes have been transformed to provide 4G mobile connections for beachgoers in Cornwall who have long struggled with little coverage. Visitors to Polzeath and Sennen Cove will be able to benefit from faster mobile internet and improved…
How will an online safety regulator work?
Plans for new laws making tech giants and social networks more accountable for harmful content online have been set out by the Government, in a bid to make the UK one of the safest places in the world to be online. Here is everything you need to know about the long-awaited white paper: Will there…
Government unveils ‘world’s first’ internet safety laws
The Government will introduce “world first” internet safety laws designed to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online, new proposals published today (8th April 2019) claim. A white paper on online harms, published jointly by the Departments for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Home Office, proposes strict…
How will the new broadband compensation rules work?
Broadband providers have agreed to begin compensating customers automatically when things go wrong with their service. Here is a closer look at how the new scheme breaks down. What has been agreed? From Monday (April 1st 2019), broadband and landline customers who suffer delays to repairs, installations or because of missed engineer appointments will automatically…
