The community initiative behind the biggest single Wi-Fi network in the UK is proposing extending its reach even further across South West England – and boosting broadband speeds to boot. But because that’ll put it in competition with BT, which has its own ideas for super-fast broadband in the area, the plans could spell trouble for local businesses.

The BT Group is waging a war on two fronts: versus the Government on one side, battling TalkTalk and Sky on the other.

Boxing Day is traditionally one of the biggest days in the online retailing calendar as shoppers with some credit left on plastic look for a bargain in the sales.
However, according to research commissioned by analytics company Webtrends, Christmas Day itself could soon be rivalling the traditional peak shopping day.
Its figures show that half of those [...]

Not only has BT Retail declared itself the first UK Internet Service Provider to reach the five million customer milestone, it’s also revealed it’s ahead of schedule when it comes to installing its next-generation broadband network

British broadband, fixed line and mobile prices are among the most competitive in the West, according to research published by Ofcom today.
It has compared the cost of bundling together a fixed line phone with broadband, as well as allowing for moderate mobile phone use and some pay television. The results show that at a price [...]

Project Canvas can now boast of two major new partners.  Broadcaster, Channel 4 and ISP, TalkTalk have joined the project which is aimed at creating a television platform which combines Freeview (and possibly pay per view) broadcasting with internet video content.
Channel 4 and TalkTalk join the BBC, ITV, Five and BT meaning that all public [...]

The Google Phone is very real and will almost certainly be sold in Europe during the first quarter of next year.
Online reports are suggesting the phone, believed to be called the Nexus One, will be available in America as soon as the start of January. However, a keynote speech by Eric Schmidt, Google CEO and [...]

The pre-Budget report is out and the “broadband tax” is in – meaning the Chancellor has given the green light to a measure that’ll cost British households with fixed lines a minimum of 50 pence each month. This comes as another Commonwealth country is talking about putting a levy on its telecommunications firms instead of its consumers. And it wasn’t the only announcement that concerns Digital Britain in what’s being seen as Alistair Darling’s first real Budget.

Vodafone will see in the New Year with a concerted push to encourage pay-as-you-go customers to use data to coincide with its launch of the iPhone.
Although the network has not announced a date when it is allowed to start selling the iconic smartphone, it is widely believed to be from the first week of January [...]

After BT admitted the only person it’s connected to broadband in a village on the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire border is the firm’s own chairman, it’s emerged neighbouring homes could be online as early as next year. However, that won’t be down to the telecoms giant but instead thanks to a local initiative.

Back in 2006, Northern Ireland proudly claimed to be the first region in Europe to benefit from 100% broadband coverage. This was achieved by equipping all telephone exchanges with DSL, and providing satellite broadband to anyone too far from the exchange to get speeds of at least 512 kpbs. The cost to the [...]

BT is to supply an up to 10Gb network to the MediaCity UK development at Salford Quays which will host the BBC’s new offices, as well as the University of Salford and Northwest Vision and Media.
BT claims this will make the new media cluster as well connected as similar media hubs in Dubai and Singapore. [...]

Mobile operator 3 says that, due to poor 3G coverage in some areas, some of its customers are unable to even carry out basic web surfing – and it’s revealed how its going to do something about it. Meanwhile, rival firm Virgin Media has unveiled its new “super fast” modem for mobile broadband, featuring a potential top speed that’s double that of its existing offering.

Leaked Government documents appear to reveal that the 50p levy on fixed lines intended to fund Britain’s access to super-fast broadband could cost consumers more than previously thought. Accordingly, not only will Value Added Tax (VAT) come in the equation, but we also now appear to have confirmation that households with more than one phone line will be charged separately for each one.

After Swindon unveiled its “Digital City” initiative last week, even Wiltshire residents may be now wistfully looking over to South Yorkshire as the heart of its new Digital Region project goes live. While it may not boast free Internet access, it is promising a “guaranteed” 25Mbit/s service and that its users will “get what they pay for.”

The people of a remote village that they describe as “England’s last wilderness” have started digging the trenches that’ll grant them Next Generation Access (NGA) to broadband, meaning it’ll be far from being the country’s last NGA not-spot. Meanwhile, it’s emerged broadband is increasingly becoming a deal-breaker when it comes to selling homes in rural areas.

The Queen’s been giving Her annual address to Parliament, formally unveiling what will be the current Government’s final legislative programme. In doing so, she announced that a new Digital Economy bill would be published on Friday and what the key elements will be – and there’s no mention of the infamous 50p levy on landlines being implemented.

Free wireless Internet access is being offered everyone living in the Wiltshire town of Swindon. It’s a million pound scheme, with the money coming from a mixture of public funds and private enterprise. However, it’s emerged there’ll be limits on what’s available without charge.

Free home broadband and three months Sky Mobile TV are the baits O2 is to use this Christmas to defend against having to share the iPhone with Orange (and then Vodafone early next year).
The much-loved mobile handheld device has been exclusive to O2 for two years but now the mobile operator finds itself fighting two [...]

BT Group and O2’s parent company Telefónica have both just released their results for the past quarter. With O2 UK now having breached the half-million mark in terms of its broadband subscribers, BT Retail has revealed it now has almost ten times as many people on its books.