Tag: OFCOM
Money back automatically for broadband and landline faults, Ofcom confirms
Broadband and landline customers will now get money back from their providers when things go wrong without having to ask, regulator Ofcom has confirmed. Only around one in seven broadband or landline customers who suffer delayed repairs, installations or missed engineer appointments have received compensation from their provider, and even then, only in small amounts,…
Children need to be protected from ‘online Wild West’, MPs claim
Addiction to social media should potentially be classed as a disease, MPs said as they called for tough new regulation to protect children from firms operating in an “online Wild West”. In a new report looking at the impact of social media on mental health, MPs said platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram should be…
Broadband customers must now be told minimum speeds at point of sale
One third of us don't get advertised broadband speeds Broadband customers must be told the minimum and peak time speeds they will receive before they sign a contract under new protections coming into force on Friday. Providers will have to let customers walk away penalty-free if they take longer than…
Britbox: What is it and will it be able to compete with rivals like Netflix?
The BBC and ITV are proposing a new joint streaming service for the UK to take on the might of Netflix and Amazon. New commissions, recent shows and old British favourites will feature on the BritBox platform. But what exactly is it and can it really take on its rivals? Why are the BBC and…
Mobile coverage still limited in many rural areas, says Ofcom
Half of premises in remote locations across the UK still have “patchy or unreliable” mobile reception, despite wider improvements to mobile coverage across the country. According to Ofcom’s annual report, reliable voice calls are now available to 97% of premises in urban homes and offices from all operators, while 83% have access to complete 4G…
Half of homes could switch to faster broadband, Ofcom says
Half of British households could switch to faster broadband today, according to Ofcom, as the regulator announced proposed new rules that will force internet providers tell customers about their best deals. A review of broadband pricing practices will also be launched, alongside a new consumer website – Boost Your Broadband – offering information on broadband…
Parliamentary inquiry launched into addictive technologies, including AR and VR
An inquiry into the impact of immersive technologies such as virtual and augmented reality has been launched by a House of Commons select committee. A group of MPs from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee will look into the impact of virtual reality on the future of sport, entertainment and news. It will…
Which? finds loyal broadband customers face penalties of up to £220
Broadband customers who stay with the same provider and do not haggle for a better deal are being hit with “loyalty penalties” of up to £220 a year, a consumer group has warned. Which? found that in some cases consumers would be better taking up a new superfast broadband contract rather than staying loyal to…
Death of the desktop? Tech-savvy Brits shun desktop PCs and DVD players for smart devices
British shoppers are turning away from desktop PCs British shoppers are shunning desktop PCs and DVD players in favour of smart televisions and smart watches, according to figures from regulator Ofcom. Less than a third of homes now have a desktop PC, with consumers increasingly turning to smart technology, according…
Which? finds loyal broadband customers pay too much, suffer bad service
Broadband customers who do not switch are enduring “often terrible” customer service and potentially paying hundreds of pounds a year more than they need to with providers taking advantage of their loyalty, according to a consumer watchdog. Which? found that 71% of broadband customers have been with their provider for at least three years and…
