While all the industry, parliamentary and media attention currently appears to be on Clause 17 of the Digital Economy Bill, another clause could mean the “Government will be able to take increased control over the Internet and what passes over it.” That’s according to Francis Davey, a practising barrister and legal advisor to the technology sector, who says Clause 11 of the Bill could allow the Secretary of State to block groups of websites and implement “technical measures which could be imposed by stealth.”

TeliaSonera today launches what it claims to be the world’s first commercial 4G mobile broadband service, in Stockholm and Oslo.
Although there have been many trials of the 4G or Long Term Evolution (LTE) services across the world, today’s service is, the network operator claims, the first time a full commercial service has been on offer.
The [...]

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.

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.

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.

How to achieve universal broadband in a country of over 300 million people occupying around 10 million square km?

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.

Net neutrality takes a huge step closer to becoming law in both Europe and the US.

The Government’s signed up a UK satellite operator in a bid to help reach the Universal Service Commitment (USC) that was laid out in the Digital Britain report. Avanti Communications is being called on to plug gaps in Britain’s broadband network as Blighty strives for 2Mbit/s access across the board by 2012. Meanwhile, another satellite broadband firm’s just announced its post-tax profits are up by over a third.

The Digital Britain minster’s been speaking in Scotland, promising superfast broadband will bring an array of social, economic and health benefits to consumers and businesses across the country. In order to achieve this, Stephen Timms says £200 million’s been set aside to supplement market-led growth and spend on “areas that have little or no service.”

Swedish government plans 100 Mbps broadband to 90% of homes and businesses by 2020.

A new BitTorrent program could be good for consumers and even, for a change, internet service providers. The news comes as UK ISP Entanet prepares to implement traffic-shaping measures – citing the heavy demand put on its network by peer-to-peer file-sharers as one of the reasons.

Internet service provider Orange, which operates a broadband business that used to be one of the UK’s biggest, has just revealed its still losing subscribers at an alarming rate. Meanwhile, rival ISP Virgin Media has announced it’s getting closer to the four million mark in terms of its customer base.

A host of internet service providers are upping their top speeds to 20Mbit/s. ISPs Orange, Plusnet and Zen Internet have all announced they’re raising their respective bars over the past few days. In doing so, they’re making up ground on the likes of Virgin Media, BT, BE and O2, which all already offer “up to” 20Mbit/s services.

Broadband universal service doesn’t have to be complicated, at least not in Finland.

The culture secretary has revealed the Government is stepping back from its new tough stance on illegal file-swapping, following widespread outcry against the move. Ben Bradshaw now says that a court order will have to be obtained by those wanting punish those they suspect of being persistent offenders – and that nobody will just be cut off “willy nilly.”

As progress is made on one of the Digital Britain proposals, it’s emerged that if the current Government loses the next election another will be abandoned “as soon as possible.”

BT has announced the roll out of its (up to 100Mb) fibre to the home (FTTH) network will reach twice as many homes as previously estimated.
BT Openreach, which is overseeing the fibre roll out, estimated last year that 1m households would have access to the fibre to the home (FTTH) network by 2012. It now [...]