When it comes to broadband speed and coverage, countryside folk get a pretty raw deal in comparison to their city-dwelling brethren. However, that could be set to change: an ISP called Vfast has just started trialling a 100Mbps wireless broadband service.
Tagged ‘broadband’
Virgin Media launched its 100Mb cable broadband in the UK just yesterday, but already rival ISP BT has weighed in with a spot of criticism, saying it was “surprised by the high price” of Virgin’s superfast service.
Ofcom has announced big plans for the UK’s broadband today, on the basis that we’re a long way off having really great broadband in the UK. There’s two key pillars to what it is trying to do. Firstly, Ofcom wants to open up BT fibre lines so that other companies like Sky and TalkTalk can provide the service to their customers. Secondly, Ofcom wants BT to give these other companies physical access to all its tunnels and telegraph. The idea is to hot up the competition and even out the odds, so that companies can offer better services through the opening up of the basic stuff that powers our broadband.
For more information, click through to the full Ofcom statement here.
So Google and Verizon have gone into a huddle and emerged with a statement on net neutrality. They say they’re committed to ensuring data flowing across the web is treated equally but want provision for new premium services where ISPs can charge more for the privilege. Does the future hold a two-tiered internet with a bog-standard public version and a souped-up private fast lane? And what should the UK do about it?
BT will be hiking its monthly line rental by 50p this autumn, in a move which is likely to disgruntle broadband users who are tied into line rental as a condition of getting a broadband connection. The only way to avoid BT’s increase will be to pay 12 months up front, a massive cost that most of us are unlikely to be willing to pay.
It seems LG is sick of the web on your telly bring a niche sideline. So along with its newly announced commitment to load up half its TVs with Freeview HD, it says it’s planning on doing exactly the same with broadband.