Broadband News: Telecoms & Technology

A brief history of British broadband

The history of broadband is fascinating, but it’s also littered with technological dead-ends and lessons for today’s consumers

Most common broadband complaints revealed

There are some surprisingly common reasons for complaining to your ISP, but these reasons vary from one provider to the next

Broadband history: what were the first websites ever launched?

The very earliest websites illustrate how much the internet has changed since the mid-1980s

Who would pay for free full fibre broadband?

Broadband ‘fair use’ policies fall from favour

IPS have recognised the limitations of these blunt instruments - good news for customers.

National full-fibre broadband could improve the UK’s standing

The rollout of ultra high speed infrastructure has been beset by obstacles, and we're lagging behind our neighbours

WordPress has been used to build 40 per cent of the world’s websites

Once a humble blogging platform, now Wordpress websites are found throughout the world, from blue-chip brands to startups and hobby sites.

Revealed: the most complained about broadband providers

The latest Ofcom league tables on UK ISP complaints has just been published, revealing which telecoms and pay TV providers are underperforming

Broadband TV set to replace cable, satellite and terrestrial services

Online telly will soon see the end of satellite dishes and aerials mounted to the walls and chimneys of homes across the UK

Ten technologies killed off by the internet

Digital twins: game-changing tech you’ve never heard of

Digital twins have become a leading technology in reducing waste, improving efficiency and moving societies towards net-zero targets

Who’s afraid of the Internet of Things?

Research suggests many consumers don’t trust the 'IoT', but are there reasons to be fearful?

Project Gigabit: government set to upgrade regions with slow broadband

The Government’s latest attempt to level up the online playing field is here

Broadband access replaces organic supermarkets in house buyers priorities

The link between broadband and house prices may not seem immediately obvious, but its relevance has been proven time and again

Technology may have the solutions to a good night’s sleep

Tech and insomnia make unfortunate bedfellows, but there are new solutions which can help to ensure your sleep is less disturbed in future

Many new build homes still missing full-fibre connectivity

4G wireless broadband – is the end nigh?

For many people, 4G wireless broadband provides a lifeline to the internet, but the rollout of 5G might herald its demise

Multi-gigabit broadband – is it on the horizon?

Multi-gigabit broadband might seem outlandish to people still reliant on ADSL connections, but achievable data transfer speeds are increasing all the time.

Is quantum computing about to change the world?

Quantum computing potential extends beyond simply processing things faster, offering scope to create entire new consumer services and product offerings

Free speech online: For & Against

The arguments for and against free speech are both compelling in isolation, so how tolerant should we be of intolerant comments?

Should broadband be free to all?

There’s a growing debate around the topic of should broadband be freely provided to every UK household, regardless of income or need

How do data breaches occur?

Data breaches are one of the modern age’s greatest safety and security threats, but stopping them is almost impossible

How many people in the UK don’t use the internet?

There are homes without internet connectivity across the UK, for reasons ranging from fear and distrust to poverty and chaotic lifestyles

Most complained about Broadband providers revealed

Ofcom complaints about ISPs rose last year as we became more reliant on internet connectivity than ever before

Is it time to introduce broadband labelling?

The concept of broadband labelling could simplify the market, bringing regulation similar to other consumer products to internet access

How many ISPs does the UK need to be truly competitive?

We consider whether there’s a minimum number of broadband providers necessary to ensure a competitive broadband market in the UK.

Tri-band routers to banish patchy wifi

Despite improvements, broadband routers continue to struggle with whole-home coverage – but tri-band routers could be the solution

Why our careers will revolve around the three Hs in future

A blended working model is likely to be adopted by many employers, radically changing our careers

The rise of the micro-broadband companies

The established order of major ISPs is increasingly being challenged by micro-broadband companies with their own infrastructure and hardware

Building Digital UK is the most important Government body you’ve never heard of

It might not be a name you’re familiar with, but its impact on all our lives is going to be significant.

Why domotics will transform our lives, homes and cities

Domotics is set to make the home of 2040 feel very different from the home of 2021, as automation evolves into every aspect of our lives

What’s going on with Bitcoin?

Price spikes contrast against an increasingly uncertain future for the ubiquitous cryptocurrency

How broadband became the UK’s most common argument

Bust-ups over the internet have intensified during a year of lockdowns and unprecedented restrictions on personal freedom.

What the cancellation of Google’s Project Loon means for broadband

Google's Project Loon was a brave – if ultimately doomed – attempt to show how broadband can be distributed from the skies

TalkTalk creates jobs for young people affected by pandemic.

Major ISP has pledged to create 50 jobs to help young people.

What’s gone wrong with the Scottish Government’s R100 broadband scheme?

The Scottish Government's R100 broadband scheme promised to transform Scotland’s internet access, but this flagship manifesto pledge hasn’t been met

Why EHF bands could revolutionise wireless data transfers

EHF bands are the secret weapon underpinning the future of wireless communications, as our homes become ever more reliant on connectivity

The future of homes is automation

Future smart homes are likely to adopt ever-increasing amounts of automation to simplify our lives – when the technology works, at least

The Broadband providers most likely to make you complain in 2021

ISP complaints in 2020 were more likely to be made about some companies than others. What does the available data tell us about likely trends in 2021?

How website design has evolved since the 1990s

Like any evolving technology, website design evolution has been bumpy and unpredictable, with today’s websites owing little to their 1990s forefathers

Why BT is turning its back on the landlines it used to champion

The end of landlines has been predicted many times before, but even BT is now turning its back on traditional telephone lines

What’s it like living without the internet?

It’s hard to imagine living without the internet, yet millions of people across the UK have no day-to-day exposure to the virtual world

How COVID-19 changed our relationship with the internet

The post-COVID internet will be a significantly different place, in both positive and negative ways

ISP’s brace for Christmas gaming surge

New survey shows PS5 and Xbox X use might cause Christmas Day internet traffic surges.

Google outage causes global standstill

Gmail, Google Drive and YouTube went down for an hour on Monday morning and it was terrifying or amazing.

Drones could be delivering tomorrow’s broadband

Connecting through flying robots might sound like sci-fi, but it’s closer to reality thanks to recent experiments

Is your Microsoft Account being sold by hackers?

A hacker is selling a batch of Microsoft passwords for hundreds of dollars.

Amazon Sidewalk means your Alexa could become a public network?

New feature could link smart home devices across households.

What’s going on with the UK broadband upgrade?

The media can’t decide if the UK broadband upgrade is going well or failing badly, so what’s the truth?

Revealed: the best and worst ISPs – calculated using Twitter

The broadband provider rankings takes a twist as university language algorithm scans over 300,000 tweets