December 2018: BT Is The UK’s Universal Broadband Provider.
The UK government announced last year that it will move ahead with introducing a universal service obligation (USO) for broadband. It subsequently consulted on the make-up of the USO and confirmed the details in new legislation that came into force in April this year.
Telecom regulator Ofcom has selected BT as the UK’s universal broadband service provider, with the exception of the Hull Area where KCOM has been assigned as the provider. This decision follows the UK legislation to start a broadband USO (universal service obligation).
The bottomline is that BT and then KCOM will be providing broadband to eligible business and homes around the United Kingdom. What this means is the all eligible homes and businesses have the right to request and be provided with a decent broadband connection. Consumers can make requests for broadband connections from the end of 2019, Ofcom said.
Ofcom said they received eight applications from Airband, Bentley Walker, Broadway Partners, Quickline and Viasat. Only three of these met the required criteria, including BT and KCOM. Hyperoptic made it into the top three service providers in the UK and subsequently withdrew its interest in being a universal service provider.
All applications were expected to meet the following standards:
1. Can they finance the delivery of the service?
2. Can they cover 5,000+ eligible premises in each chosen local authority?
3. Does their proposed technology meet the technical specification?
Ofcom, as the terms regulator, has opened consultation on its proposals. Companies are to be mandated to deliver broadband services that meet the minimum standards stipulated in UK law. Out-Law.com reported that Ofcom’s consultation was to be expected before the end of 2018.
At Happy Telecom we work with businesses across the United Kingdom in improving their telecommunications. We providing top quality advice, technology, and hardware with the purpose of improving productivity and getting businesses ahead of their competitors in the market. Happy Telecom can get your business moved over to a universal broadband service provider.
Get in touch by calling Happy Telecom on 0800 285 1533 or email sales@happytelecom.co.uk about putting your business on our 2020 waiting list.