Windows 10: New Ofcom money back rule for broadband and home phone customers in UK

Brink · Apr 1, 2019

Broadband and landline customers will get money back from their providers when things go wrong, without having to fight for it, from Monday 1 April.Previously, only around one in seven broadband or home phone customers who suffered delayed repairs, installations or missed engineer appointments received compensation from their provider. And even when they did, this was only in small amounts.

So, Ofcom has intervened to ensure fairness for customers, while also giving companies a strong incentive to avoid delays in the first place.

The UK’s largest broadband and home phone firms have agreed to compensate customers when they experience these delays, without the customer having to ask.

BT, Sky, TalkTalk, Virgin Media and Zen Internet had already signed up to the scheme. Ofcom has today announced that Hyperoptic and Vodafone have also signed up, and will start paying compensation automatically later this year. Together, the firms that have committed to the scheme account for more than 95% of broadband and home phone customers in the UK.

The new scheme could see customers benefit from a total of £142m in payments – around nine times the amount they received before. As well as consumers, it will benefit the many small and medium-sized businesses who use residential landline and broadband services.

This is how it works:

Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: “We think it’s unacceptable that people should be kept waiting for a new line, or a fault to be fixed.

“These new protections mean phone and broadband firms will want to avoid problems occurring in the first place. But if they fall short, customers must be treated fairly and given money back, without having to ask for it.
“We welcome the companies’ commitment to this scheme, which acts as a strong incentive to improve service for customers.”

We will closely watch how companies comply with the scheme, and will report next year on how it is working. If customers are not being treated fairly, we will step in and take action.

For more information on the scheme, see our guide.

Fairness for customers

The scheme is part of our Fairness for customers work, which ensures broadband, phone and TV customers are treated fairly.

This includes:

a price cap on directory enquiry services, which also comes into force on Monday (1 April). This will protect people who call these 118 numbers from high prices;

clear, honest information for broadband shoppers – before they commit to a contract – about what speeds they will get.

plans to make companies tell people when their contracts are coming to an end, and what their best available deals are;

a review of broadband companies’ pricing practices, looking at why some people pay more than others;

a review of how mobile operators charge for handsets when these are bundled with airtime; and

easier switching for mobile customers, which comes into effect by 1 July.

EE has agreed to the new terms and expects to be able to start paying compensation automatically next year. Plusnet has also committed to the scheme.
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Source: Money back for broadband and home phone customers when things go wrong - Ofcom

:)

Brink · Apr 1, 2019

Forging a full fibre broadband and 5G future for all in UK

Mandatory full fibre broadband for all new build homes and a new priority to connect hard-to-reach rural areas are key measures proposed in a national, long-term strategy for UK telecommunications.

The new approach is aimed at driving large-scale commercial investment in the fixed and wireless networks that are vital for the UK to remain globally competitive in a digital world.

The Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR), announced as part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, proposes the changes that are needed to give the majority of the population access to 5G, connect 15 million premises to full fibre broadband by 2025, and provide full fibre broadband coverage across all of the UK by 2033. Full fibre infrastructure is vital to underpin 5G coverage.

At its heart is an emphasis on greater consumer choice and initiatives to promote quicker rollout and an eventual full switch over from copper to fibre.

DCMS Secretary of State, Jeremy Wright said:
"We want everyone in the UK to benefit from world-class connectivity no matter where they live, work or travel. This radical new blueprint for the future of telecommunications in this country will increase competition and investment in full fibre broadband, create more commercial opportunities and make it easier and cheaper to roll out infrastructure for 5G."
The FTIR’s analysis indicates that, without change, full fibre broadband networks will at best only ever reach three quarters of the country, and it would take more than twenty years to do so. It also indicates that 5G offers the potential for an expansion of the telecoms market, with opportunities for existing players and new entrants.

Key recommendations from the FTIR include:

New legislation that will guarantee full fibre connections to new build developments;

Providing Operators with a ‘right to entry’ to flats, business parks, office blocks and other tenanted properties to allow those who rent to receive fast, reliable connectivity, from the right supplier at the best price;

Reforms to the regulatory environment for full fibre broadband that will drive investment and competition and is tailored to different local market conditions;

Public investment in full fibre for rural areas to begin simultaneously with commercial investment in urban locations;

An industry led switchover (from copper to full fibre) coordinated with Ofcom;

A new nationwide framework which will reduce the costs, time and disruption caused by street-works by standardising the approach across the country;

Increased access to spectrum for innovative 5G services

Infrastructure (including pipes and sewers) owned by other utilities such as power, gas and water, should be easy to access, and available for both fixed and mobile use;

Ofcom to reform regulation, allowing unrestricted access to Openreach ducts and poles for both residential and business use, including essential mobile infrastructure;

Alongside the FTIR, Government has also published a Digital Infrastructure Toolkit which will allow mobile networks to make far greater use of Government buildings to boost coverage across the UK.

The FTIR will drive competition and commercial investment in full fibre networks across as much of the UK as possible. However there will be some parts of the country where it will be unlikely that that the market will be able to deliver alone.

Nationwide availability of full fibre is likely to require additional funding of around £3 billion to £5 billion to support commercial investment in the final c.10% of areas. These, often rural areas, must not be forced to wait until the rest of the country has connectivity before they can access gigabit-capable networks.

The Government will therefore pursue an “outside-in” strategy, meaning that while network competition serves the commercially viable areas, the Government will support investment in the most difficult to reach areas at the same time. We have already identified around £200 million within the existing Superfast broadband programme that can further the delivery of full fibre networks immediately.

Sharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive, said:
"We welcome the Government’s review, and share its ambition for full-fibre and 5G networks to be rolled out right across the UK. The Government and Ofcom are working together, and with industry, to help ensure people and businesses get the broadband and mobile they need for the 21st century."
Next steps

We will shortly publish consultations on legislative changes to streamline wayleaves and mandate fibre connections in new builds. The conclusions of the Review will also form the basis of the government’s Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) to Ofcom, setting out the strategic objectives and outcomes that the regulator must have regard to in the exercise of its regulatory functions.
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Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/f...future-for-all

Brink · Apr 1, 2019

Broadband boost promised as Openreach heads for split from BT

Communications regulator Ofcom is pushing ahead with plans to make BT Openreach a separate company, in a bid to improve broadband competition in the UK.

The watchdog said it is proceeding with a formal notification to require the legal separation of Openreach from BT, and said that BT had failed to offer proposals to address competition concerns.

Openreach is the part of BT that maintains the UK's main telecoms network used by rivals such as Sky, TalkTalk, and Vodafone -- and BT's own retail business.

Creating a more independent Openreach is an important part improving broadband quality, the regulator said: "We are disappointed that BT has not yet come forward with proposals that meet our competition concerns. Some progress has been made, but this has not been enough, and action is required now to deliver better outcomes for phone and broadband users."

Earlier this year Ofcom set out its competition concerns: that BT has the incentive and ability to favour its own retail business when making decisions about new network investments by Openreach.

Ofcom's proposal requires Openreach to become a distinct company with its own board with a majority of non-executive directors, including the chair, who are not affiliated with BT. Ofcom said it is now preparing to notify the European Commission of its intention to implement these plans...
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Read more: Broadband boost promised as Openreach heads for split from BT | ZDNet

Steve C · Apr 1, 2019

Money App - Missing UK Fund Prices

Some of my UK funds on the Money app Watchlist now have a zero price whereas they used to have the correct price. I can search for the funds by symbol on MSN Money. This lists the correct fund but displays the price as zero and displays "Data not available"

It seems MSN Money is no longer listing many UK fund prices.

Windows 10: New Ofcom money back rule for broadband and home phone customers in UK

New Ofcom money back rule for broadband and home phone customers in UK

New Ofcom money back rule for broadband and home phone customers in UK

New Ofcom money back rule for broadband and home phone customers in UK

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