Tag: OFCOM
Ofcom fines Shell Energy £1.4 million for broadband breaches
Ofcom has today fined Shell Energy £1,400,000 for not properly prompting more than 70,000 phone and broadband customers to review their contract, or letting them know what they could save by signing up to a new deal. Ofcom’s investigation found that the company broke important consumer protection rules designed to ensure that customers get a fair deal…
Groups could be allowed to make ‘super-complaint’ under Online Safety Act
Children’s charities, free speech advocates and consumer groups such as Which? could, for the first time, raise online safety and freedom of expression concerns directly to Ofcom through a “super-complaint”. Under the Online Safety Act, social media companies have been given new duties to protect children, enforce the promises they make to users and remove…
2 in 3 Brits feel broadband providers use baffling jargon like FTTP
More than half (54%) of Brits believe that broadband providers are intentionally keeping them in the dark, hiding behind confusing jargon to squeeze more money out of customers. The research revealed three-quarters of people aged 65 and over (73%) are confused by broadband terminology - the highest of all age groups - compared with 56%…
Viewers welcome ‘more enlightened portrayals’ of sex on TV, says Ofcom report
Normal People. Image: BBC Audiences welcome ‘more enlightened’ TV portrayals of sex, including focus on consent and female empowerment Viewers consider graphic, realistic TV violence ups dramatic value Warnings and the watershed still considered important measures to protect children People expect ‘edgier’ content to be shown on subscription streaming services Viewers…
UK’s Online Safety Bill finally becomes law
The Online Safety Act has today (Thursday 26 October) received Royal Assent, placing increased legal duties on social media platforms. The new laws take a zero-tolerance approach to protecting children from online harm, claims the UK Government, while empowering adults with more choices over what their children can see online. The Act places legal responsibility…
WhatsApp is UK’s most popular messaging app as traditional texting declines
While mobile phone calls are still a popular way to keep in touch with friends and family, most adults would rather go without them for a day than forgo their favourite messaging apps, according to new research published by Ofcom. Online communication services like WhatsApp and Snapchat have become increasingly important to our daily lives.…
Vodafone is most complained-about broadband provider, Ofcom report claims
Ofcom has published the latest figures for complaints it has received about the UK's main landline, broadband, mobile and pay-TV services with Vodafone being the most complained about broadband provider for the period. These figures cover the period from April to June 2023, and show that while the volume of complaints remained consistent with the…
Full-fibre broadband could reach 91% of all UK properties by 2026, claims Ofcom
If all network deployments are realised as planned, the number of UK properties with full-fibre broadband will increase from 15.4 million in May this year to 27 million in May 2026, according to Ofcom’s latest Connected Nations report. Promoting the rollout of high-speed networks is a top priority for Ofcom. Its regulation promotes competition and…
UK cloud computing in competition probe, Tesla set to lose EV crown to BYD?
The UK's cloud computing market is to face a competition probe over concerns it is being dominated by Amazon and Microsoft. Media watchdog Ofcom said the two make up 70-80% of the sector in the UK, while closest rival Google has 5-10%. Ofcom had said in April it was worried a lack of competition made…
Canterbury is worst UK city for broadband speeds, claims report
Canterbury Cathedral. Historic Canterbury has won the wooden spoon for the city with the most sluggish internet in the first annual Broadband Genie Speed Index Analysis of more than 250,000 speed tests saw the quiet Highlands village of Halkirk named the slowest part of the UK, recording an average speed of…
