A report from Epitiro has identified that AOL, BT, Demon,
Orange and Virgin provided the UK's top five consumer ADSL
broadband services in the second quarter of 2006.
Gavin Johns, Managing Director of Epitiro said, "Our consumer
ADSL testing found that in terms of Internet performance, BT topped
the overall rankings for the period April to June 2006. BT was also
found to provide the fastest service as a percentage of its
theoretical maximum."
63 percent of adults in the UK access the Internet according
to the latest Internet Access report which was published by
National Statistics on 31 May 2006.
The most common place to access the Internet was at home (86
percent), 46 per cent accessed at work, 28 percent at another
person's home, 16 percent at a place of education and 10 percent at
a public library.
Country Reports providing a market overview of data and
telecommunications services are available now for:
During 2009 the analogue TV signal will be switched off in
Wales. Many newer televisions contain a digital tuner so will
continue to work as usual.
Older televisions will not continue to work through a
conventional TV aerial and will need to be plugged in to a digital
TV service.
Some newer TV sets can pick up digital TV through your
aerial. Other TV sets require a Freeview set-top
box.
A satellite dish attached to your property and a satellite
set-top decoder box can allow you to receive free or subscription
satellite services.
Most cable services are already digital. Those that are
not (such as Wrights Radio Relay in Newtown) will not be affected
by the switch off.
Digital television can be provided over a conventional phone
line. The usual method is for an ADSL broadband connection to
be set-up. Then a set top box is plugged in to the ADSL
router.
The set top then delivers digital TV channels to the
television.
The term given to receiving broadband over the Internet is
IPTV. To put it simply, IP (Internet Protocol) is the term given to
the method in which computers communicate over the Internet.
Competition in the broadband industry looks set to spill over
in to the television sector very soon. The recent launch of
Sky Broadband sees the satellite provider competing directly with
BT.
However, whether this will actually deliver a full IPTV
service (similar to Homechoice) or more of a download service
remains to be seen. Currently the BT Vision website described
the service as:
Organised by the European Commission with the Latvian
Government, the objectives of the ICT for an Inclusive Society
conference was to raise the awareness of eInclusion and to begin
the work of preparing to launch by 2008, a European eInclusion
Initiative, which will form part of the wider European i2010
initiative.
The UK was represented by Margaret Hodge the newly appointed
DTI Minister for Industry and the Regions. In her keynote
speech she referred to e-accessibility as a precursor to eInclusion
and that it should be viewed as an "opportunity" not a
"threat". That it matters for both social and economic
reasons and that if member states don't act, the so called "digital
divide" will only widen. Her main messages were:
The conference consisted of a small exhibition and a series of
plenary sessions running over two and a half days.
The Broadband Wales delegation was the only regional
Government body to be exhibiting and there was significant interest
from all over Europe. The interest was predominantly shared
between:
George Walker and Sarah Lilley of eWales were able to provide
a summary of the Broadband Wales programme from both a policy and
project perspective.
RIBS enablement programme ahead of
schedule
The rollout of the RIBS broadband exchange enablement is
on-time and for 8 exchanges (over 20%) ahead of schedule.
ADSL Max from RIBS Exchanges
All of the exchanges enabled by the RIBS project will be able
to deliver ADSL Max services and be included in any future national
upgrade programmes such as ADSL 2.
"Still can't get Broadband?"
In addition, you may want to ask your neighbours to see if
they are facing the same not-spot issues, and encourage them
to register their details onto the brokerage site, as the more
registrations that are collected in one area, the better the
business case and justification for doing the work.
Regulatory Round-up
Fixed-Line Service Comparison Website Launches
Ofcom has launched a website designed to allow business and
residential phone users to compare the service performance provided
by fixed-line telecoms providers in the UK.
This includes all major providers such as BT, Bulldog and
NTL. At the end of 2006 Ofcom will review the TopComm scheme
and may consider broadening its scope to include more providers and
more services such as broadband.
www.topcomm.org.uk/
Digital Public Service Broadcasting
Ofcom has published its intentions to review the changes to
public service broadcasting that will be required following the
switchover to digital television across the UK.
In its statutory review, Ofcom asked whether there was a case
for institutional innovation in public service broadcasting beyond
the BBC and Channel 4, with a new media focus. Ofcom's work will
develop more detailed proposals on the Public Service Publisher's
creative remit and how it would work in practice.
Ofcom removes retail price controls on BT line rental and
calls
22 years after retail price controls were first imposed to
limit increases in the price of line rental and calls for BT
customers, Ofcom announced their removal.
EU Consultations
Call for
Input on the White Paper on a European Communication
PolicyThe European Commission (EC) has called for input on the White
Paper on a European Communication Policy. The consultation
calls for comments on five areas for which the White Paper proposes
joint action to be taken:
- defining common principles guiding the communication activities
on European issues
- empowering citizens
- working with the media and new technologies
- understanding European public opinion
- doing the job together
Closes – 30 September 2006
Public Consultation on Content Online in the Single
Market
Ways to stimulate the growth of a true EU single market for
online digital content such as films, music and games.
Closes – 13 October 2006
Online public consultation on radio frequency
identification (RFID)
Closes – 17 September 2006
e-Wales - a Strategic Consultation
The
e-Wales strategy document is now available for consultation.
The key aim of the consultation is to get your views on how we get
the best out of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to
achieve a better Wales.
Closes – 31 October 2006.
UK Consultations
3G
Rollout ObligationsOfcom is seeking to measure the extent to which 3G services
are available to the UK population where they live. Such services
should, under normal circumstances, be able to provide a range of
applications such as voice, text, video and multimedia services for
outdoor reception with speeds up to 384kbps. Coverage to meet this
obligation is expected to be primarily urban/suburban rather than
rural.
Closes – 20th October 2006
Making Spectrum Available in the 71-76GHz &
81-86GHz Bands
Ofcom has launched a consultation in to proposals to open the
71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz spectrum bands (the "Spectrum Bands") for
point to point broadband fixed wireless systems ("FWS") on a light
licensed basis.
At present these spectrum bands are not in commercial use.
However, new technology offers the possibility of new applications
for these higher frequency bands.
These applications could include very high capacity,
point-to-point wireless networks, which could potentially be used
as alternatives to fibre optic cable. Possible data speeds range
from 1Gbps to 10Gbps over distances of 1-2 km. In comparison,
copper loops typically enable connection speeds of between 1Mbps
and 24Mbps.
Closes – 2 August 2006
Market News
BT 21CN Update
BT have carried more than 23 million customer calls over IP in
their latest trial stage of the 21CN project.
The trial involved using an IP link to carry voice calls
between two nodes in the telephone network at Cambridge and
Woolwich, which carried more than 625,000 live customer calls per
day.
Deb Covey, managing director, BT Wholesale Networks said:
"21CN is gathering momentum as we head towards the start of
customer lines being switched to the new network in South Wales in
November. We are working with the rest of the industry to finalise
the UK rollout plan. It's full steam ahead as we prepare sites
across the country for equipment to be installed this
summer."
The trial is set to be completed ahead of the first stage of
mass customer migration to the all new IP network. Commencing in
November 2006, this will involve migrating some 350,000 end
customer lines in Cardiff and the surrounding area.
Wales ADSL Max stats
Total exchanges in Wales: 434
ADSL enabled exchanges: 399
SDSL enabled exchanges: 18
ADSL Max enabled exchanges: 399
The remaining 35 exchanges will be installed with ADSL
Max.
Market news in brief
Orangelaunched a free ADSL broadband service
to mobile customers whose monthly bills are over £30 subject to an
18 month contract.
Vodafone has followed up its June 2006
launch of 3G HSDPA broadband services in the UK by announcing the
launch ofVodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem in autumn
2006.
The device will allow customers to access Vodafone's high
speed 3G broadband service by simply plugging it into the USB slot
on their computer.
Customers using the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem will be
able to benefit from download speeds of around 1.4Mbps and upload
speeds of up to 384 Kbps, although the service is only currently
available in major cities in England.
NTL completed its acquisition of Virgin
Mobile on 4 July 2006 and has since launched the UK's first
quad-play package combining phone, Internet, TV and mobile.
www.ntl.com
E7even has cancelled all customer contracts for
broadband. Former customers are being directed to an
alternative service provider called Ezee DSL (also known as 186k
Limited).
Ofcom has been following developments at E7Even closely, and
has opened a formal regulatory investigation into the
company.
Unbundling Update
OTA Update for May 2006
The Office of the Telecommunications Adjudicator announced on
2 June 2006 that the number of unbundled lines in the UK exceeded
471,000. This is up from 420,000 in April 2006.
The OTA stated: "I am pleased we have reached 471,000 lines on
the current tactical platforms and processes.
"However it is still important to recognise that the Delivery
of Backhaul and Co-Mingling PoPs in a quality manner and the move
to the Strategic (EMP) Openreach systems at a time when the CPs
need the functionality for their businesses are essential to keep
the momentum going."
Previous announcements had suggested a potential to unbundle
between two and three million lines by the end of 2006.
The Telecommunications Adjudicator aims to facilitate swift
implementation of the processes necessary to enable competitors to
gain access to BT's local loop on an equivalent basis to that
enjoyed by BT's own businesses.
UK Unbundling League
|
Provider
|
Enabled
|
Source
|
|
C&W
|
641
|
|
|
Sky
|
387
|
|
|
Tiscali
|
242
|
|
|
Orange
|
218
|
|
|
O2 (Be)
|
159
|
|
|
Homechoice
|
145
|
|
|
Edge
|
21
|
|
|
Node4
|
4
|
|
Wales Unbundling League
|
Provider
|
Enabled
|
Source
|
|
C&W
|
8
|
|
|
Tiscali
|
4
|
|
Unbundling Targets and Pending
AOL
Target: 300 by first half of 2006
Cable and Wireless (Bulldog)
Target: 800 by 30/09/2006
Carphone Warehouse (Talk Talk)
Pending: 1,018 (30 in Wales)
by 31/08/2006
Orange
Unbundled exchanges 28
Pending: 87 (12 in Wales) by 30/09/2006
O2 (Be)
Pending: 23 by 01/01/2007
Pipex
Target: 100 by 31/12/2006
Market Data Analysis
AOL is reportedly going to sell its UK
business to either BSkyB, Orange or The Carphone Warehouse for
around £650m. The company, owned by Time Warner, has
2.3million members in the UK including 1.1million broadband
subscribers.
http://business.guardian.co.uk/
Bulldog is also selling its 118,000 broadband
customers according to newspaper reports, due to the lack of
ability to compete with major brands such as Carphone Warehouse,
Orange and BSkyB.
NTL is due to announce Second Quarter 2006
results on 1 August 2006. Any growth on previous figures will
see them maintain a lead over BT.
The Carphone Warehouse has announced it has
signed up 596,000 broadband customers, including 476,000 who have
signed up for free broadband.
Orange has reached over 1million broadband
subscribers in the UK.
Sky Broadband was launched on 18 July 2006
following the acquisition of Easynet.
Tiscali has announced it has achieved 1.2
million broadband subscribers in the UK.
Data sources:
Useful Links
Broadband Wales Programme
Visit the Broadband Wales Programme website for information on
the benefits that broadband can bring for you
www.wales.gov.uk/broadband
Broadband for Life
Other News and Events
RIBS "Not-spots" Registration Scheme
If you still can't get broadband after you have been informed
that your telephone exchange has been enabled, please register your
details at
www.bbwo.org.uk/blackspots
.
Details of when your exchange is due to be enabled can be
found at
The scheme is operated by BBWO on behalf of the Welsh Assembly
Government.
Please note every attempt is made to ensure figures published
in this newsletter are the most up to date and accurate figures
publicly available at time of going to press, however, exact
figures may vary.
Thank you for reading the
Broadband Bulletin from the Broadband Wales
Observatory (BBWO). This newsletter is published once a
month.
Researched by:
Edited by:
Rhys Gravell
Published by:
Broadband Wales
Observatory
eCommerce Innovation Centre
Cardiff University
Cardiff Business Technology Centre
Senghenydd Road
Cardiff CF24 4AY
Tel: 029 2064 7030
The Broadband Wales Observatory is managed by
the
eCommerce Innovation Centre
at Cardiff University on behalf of eWales at the Welsh
Assembly Government.