Mobile Broadband Blogs

Tuesday, December 29th 2009

If the economic downturn has taught us anything, it is that many of us can get by with what we have. However, is the world of broadband one area where we should be showing a bit more ambition?

New research from ISPreview.co.uk has revealed that broadband customers focus on reliability rather than speed when selecting a new provider. While over a third of us demand more powerful connections, over 40 per cent are happy to ensure they can get online above anything else.

Thursday, December 10th 2009

Brits are bundling! That is the suggestion from brand new figures from Ofcom, which have also highlighted the improved savings available to those who are combining their broadband, home phone and digital TV deals.

According to the communications regulator's latest Customer Experience report, over a third of UK consumers chose to take up bundled deals involving some or all of their web, TV and phone needs during 2008.

Such statistics will be news to the ears of certain broadband providers, namely the likes of Virgin Media, Sky and BT which all offer a range of packages featuring bundled internet, phone and TV services.

Wednesday, December 2nd 2009

Virgin Media is obviously not content with ruling the roost when it comes to the fastest fibre optic broadband speeds, as it now has its sights set on revolutionising the mobile internet market.

The company's new high-speed USB dongle is said to offer download speeds of 7.2Mbps and hopes are high that the move will follow on from the success of the 3.6Mbps dongle it previously offered.

It has been claimed that the service will mean people will be able to enjoy video streaming alongside usual mobile internet pursuits such as browsing and checking emails.

Monday, November 9th 2009

If you believe the range of property shows on TV, moving house is all about three words: Location, location, location. However, a new study has suggested that the well-known mantra could soon become broadband, broadband, broadband.

The poll by news provider ISPreview.co.uk found that 75.1 per cent of people would turn down a move to their perfect home if they could only gain access to broadband of up to 1Mbps, with a number of respondents stating that connections of 4Mbps or higher are their minimum requirement.

Wednesday, September 9th 2009

The announcement of Orange and T-Mobile's imminent merger caused a stir when announced yesterday. Indeed, in a week which has seen the UK's interest in the Beatles rise once again, it seems rather apt that we also get to see two major firms come together.

However, what impact will the deal have on those currently looking to buy either a home or mobile broadband package?

Well, the answer at the moment appears to be none. In a column for Reuters, Which? telecoms expert Ceri Stanaway has claimed that no "big changes" to services are likely to appear in the short-term.

Thursday, September 3rd 2009

For many who are heading to university, the thought of all-day partying is often more higher on the agenda than utility bills.

However, more and more broadband providers are looking to tap into the market, which means students need to be aware of what is available to them and what deals will best suit their needs.

Be Broadband has even made an early move in the market, offering nine-month deals that are tailored to fit the needs of those heading into shared housing.

However, communications regulator Ofcom has moved to stop the subject from getting too confusing for students by publishing new advice on the topic.

Thursday, August 27th 2009

A new study released on the other side of the Atlantic has condemned the speed of broadband in the US. However, one of the most worrying aspects is that their connections are actually better than ours.

The Speed Matters survey has claimed the average speed in the US is a "poor" 5.1 Mbps, which represents an increase of just 1.6 Mbps since 2007.

It also claimed that it would take the country up to 15 years to "catch up" with the speeds of the world's fastest connections currently being enjoyed in South Korea – which stand at an average of 20.4 Mbps.

Despite the tone of the study, the US is still a lot better than many other countries, namely the UK.

Thursday, August 20th 2009

Could consumers across the UK be set to experience problems with their mobile broadband?

New research by a team from the University of East Anglia claims current legislation regarding WiFi sharing is "not appropriate" and could be restricting broadband access across the UK.

In its study entitled Law in the Last Mile: Sharing Internet Access Through WiFi, the researchers claim legislation is holding back the development of WiFi technology and is giving "disproportionate protection" to internet service providers (ISPs).

Wednesday, July 29th 2009

Ofcom's latest research on how broadband providers are not delivering on their promises in terms of connection speed is just one of several knocks to come towards the industry in recent weeks.

However, while many would be forgiven for thinking internet firms are in disarray, another poll has suggested that they have upped their game in customer services.

According to figures from government advice service Consumer Direct, the number of complaints received by the body on internet providers fell by 16.18 per cent in the first half of 2009 compared to figures from 12 months ago.

Monday, July 27th 2009

The city of Lincoln may be better known for its cathedral and heritage than being at the front of any major technological advances, but that may soon be about to change thanks to a new deal.

Under plans agreed by its university, local authorities and AB Internet, the area is to become one of the UK's first cities to offer full low-cost Wi-Fi access to both visitors and residents.

According to AB Internet, the plans also follow a sustainable business model that could be implemented across the UK in other cities and even in rural areas – which may be of interest to the government as it considers how exactly to make its promise of universal broadband a reality.

Wednesday, July 22nd 2009

While some parents probably believe they have enough to think about over the summer holidays, Ofcom has decided to give them something else to consider.

Fresh from publishing data on mobile broadband coverage in the UK, the communications regulator has unveiled new advice for guardians and carers who may be looking after little ones that want to browse the internet over the next few weeks.

According to research, over four-fifths of youngsters aged between 12 and 15 use the web regularly at home and while Ofcom claims it offers "a host of opportunities for fun and learning", they could stumble across content that may be inappropriate for them.

Friday, July 17th 2009

As the UK's digital TV switchover rolls on across the south-west of England, it has emerged that the change may lead to more than just confusion for those who struggle with the concept of set-top boxes or Virgin Media subscriptions.

Experts across Europe have even predicted that the freeing up of radio frequencies previously used for analogue broadcasts could boost the quality of wireless services, particularly mobile broadband coverage.

In order to take advantage of the issue, the European Commission has launched a consultation into how countries can work together to get the most out of the opportunity that the switchover has raised.

Wednesday, July 15th 2009

While concerns over swine flu appear to be rising in the UK, it appears that even the world of broadband could soon find itself struggling due to the illness.

In a rather unique twist on the concept of the computer virus, reports have emerged that an expert believes the internet infrastructure may not be able to cope if hundreds of thousands of people are forced to work from home due to the illness.

The call came from Lyndon Bird, a business continuity expert who was invited to a meeting in Whitehall with emergency services on how firms could manage with potential problems caused by the condition's status as a pandemic.

Tuesday, July 14th 2009

The new revelation that QI host Stephen Fry has tried his hand at illegal downloading may be surprising, but possibly not as truly eye-opening as news that young people have cut their file-sharing habits.

While the government's recent Digital Britain report included proposals to cut the illegal sharing of music and video, it appears that such behaviour has already fallen out of fashion with the youth of today.

The study by research agency The Leading Question found that the number of UK teens file-sharing has dropped by around a third in recent times, while the volume of pirated tracks to legal songs acquired by fans has halved in the past year.

Friday, July 10th 2009

Despite some criticism of the market in recent times, new research has revealed that the public's appetite for broadband continues to be large.

According to the figures from Futuresource Consulting, the total number of people subscribing to such web services across the globe is expected to break the 500 million mark next year.

However, perhaps one of the most surprising aspects of the research is not the figures on growth, but findings on the pace of connections in different countries.

In the US, the national average download speed available is just 2.7Mbps, which is even slower than the much-derided average of 4.2Mbps that uSwitch.com claims is available on this side of Atlantic.