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The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has today proposed to grant SpaceX’s Starlink service “temporary authorisation” to harness the E band frequencies for their mega constellation of compact ultrafast broadband satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The move would expand their backhaul capacity at three gateway earth station sites within the UK.

At present Starlink has around 7,580 satellites in Low Earth Orbit (c.3,880 are v2 Mini / GEN 2A) – mostly at altitudes of c.500-600km – and they’ll add thousands more by the end of 2027. Residential customers in the UK typically pay from £75 a month, plus £299 for hardware on the ‘Standard’ unlimited data plan (currently free in some areas on a 12-month term), which promises latency times of 25-60ms, downloads of 25-100Mbps and uploads of 5-10Mbps.

However, Starlink’s growing network is in need of new capacity to support its expansion, which has resulted in the company requesting temporary authorisation to use E band (71-76GHz and 81-86GHz) spectrum at three of its existing gateway sites: Morn Hill (Hampshire), Wherstead (Suffolk) and Woodwalton (Cambridgeshire).

The regulator has today proposed to grant these temporary authorisations, which would expire on 31st December 2028. But they would be subject to some technical conditions in order to protect existing uses for Fixed Service and the Earth Exploration Satellite Service (passive).

The reason for this being only a temporary measure is because Ofcom are still in the process of developing their plans for making spectrum in the Q, V and E bands available for satellite gateways. But given Starlink’s request for the spectrum, Ofcom has decided to phase this work, although they still plan to consult on the longer-term authorisation of gateways in E band in 2028 – following the next World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027 (WRC-27). The regulator also still intends to make the Q/V bands available for satellite gateways and they’ll consult on that in Q2 2025/6.

“We consider that, subject to these conditions, issuing these licences on a temporary basis should not unduly affect other services using E band and adjacent frequencies,” said Ofcom’s statement. The proposal is currently subject to consultation until 27th June 2025. The final decision would then, short of any unexpected delays, be confirmed on Q2 2025/6.

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South Western Railway (SWR) has become the first train operator in Europe to roll out a ‘Rail-5G’ Wi-Fi solution, promising internet speeds up to 20 times faster than currently available on most UK trains

The new technology has gone live on a 70 km stretch between Earlsfield and Basingstoke, one of the busiest parts of the rail network. The upgrade allows passengers to stream video, download large files, make video calls, and work remotely with minimal disruption. 

Unlike standard onboard Wi-Fi (which typically pulls signal from mobile masts and struggles with bandwidth when hundreds of passengers are online) the rail-5G solution involves the creation of a dedicated trackside network. Antennas installed along the route and on trains deliver a continuous connection throughout the journey. 

The system was developed by FirstGroup’s rail technology team, following a successful trial on the Isle of Wight’s Island Line. According to SWR, a full HD film could now be downloaded in just four minutes. 

“We’re thrilled that our customers travelling between Earlsfield and Basingstoke are the first to benefit from this unprecedented superfast Wi-Fi. Customers can now stream, download files, video call, and much more – without worrying about their connection,” said Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway in a press release. 

“We hope this will make travelling by train an even more attractive option, helping to get people out of cars and onto the rail network,” he continued. 

SWR hopes the improved service will help make rail travel a more attractive option. A recent Ipsos poll found that 41% of UK adults would be more likely to travel by train if reliable Wi-Fi was available. Among 16–24-year-olds, that figure rises to 64%. 

The operator says more upgrades are on the way as it looks to improve digital infrastructure across its network. 

Last week, the company was the first UK train operator to be nationalised in over 30 years.

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Also in the news:
BT accelerates fibre rollout amid cost cuts
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre assets
Telefónica exits Uruguay in $440m Millicom deal

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State-owned broadband ISP and telecoms operator JT (Jersey Telecom), supported by technology partner Ericsson, have today confirmed that their c. £80 million project to deploy a new 5G based mobile network across Jersey (English Channel Island) has finally started to go live across its first area.

The deployment, which was first announced almost two years ago (there have been various trials and pilots conducted since then), will also involve both the complementary retirement of their legacy 3G network and the replacement of JT’s existing 4G network (this is based off kit from Chinese firm ZTE, is now seen as a security risk by the UK government and other countries).

So far, the operator has successfully migrated the old network on sites within Area 1 of their deployment plan (St Ouen) and transitioned to the newly built network, which all occurred over the weekend. “Predictions based on early testing show significant signal strength and coverage improvements, culminating in further significant increases in average download speed on the new network compared to the previous connectivity,” claimed the update.

The process of rolling out the new network will take place over “several months“, with new areas going live in a phased approach. The full 5G Standalone (SA) experience will then only become available once all phases are completed, which is expected by the end of 2025 (i.e. this reflects end-to-end 5G connectivity without any 4G services to hold the network back, assuming you have a compatible device / Smartphone).

Predicted 5G Go Live Dates in 2025

Area 1 – North-West (St Ouen, St Mary) – MAY/JUN
Area 2 – North (St John) – JUN
Area 3 – North-East (Trinity, St Martin) – JUN
Area 4 – East (Grouville, Gorey, La Rocque) – JUL
Area 5 – West (St Peter, Airport) – JUL
Area 6 – South-West (St Brelade) – AUG
Area 7 – St Helier Town Centre and Marina – SEPT
Area 8 – Central (St Saviour, Five Oaks) – SEPT
Area 9 – South-East (St Clement) – OCT
Area 10 – South (St Lawrence, First Tower, St Peter) – NOV

JT has also invested in extensive core network equipment in Guernsey as part of this initiative and stands ready to switch the radio network to match the capabilities of Jersey’s. But only once the Guernsey Regulator establishes a spectrum licensing framework for the deployment of 5G and future technologies.

Daragh McDermott, CEO of JT Group, said:

“Networks are never complete; the work never stops because technology is always improving, so our focus will always be on enabling the technology of tomorrow, for our customers today. We are constantly looking ahead while addressing current needs, providing the best possible connectivity and working with partner organisations and businesses to help them get the most out of the network.

It’s about taking the right risks and making prudent investments so everyone can thrive and innovate, advancing the digital economy across the Channel Islands.”

Deputy Lyndon Farnham, Chief Minister of Jersey, said:

“We welcome the roll-out across the Island of the new 5G network and the potential for enhanced service, security, resilience and innovation it brings. I was able to visit JT’s Network Operation Centre for the official launch and look forward to hearing more about the performance of the new network and the impact on customers in Jersey.”

The new mobile network, once completed, should act as a good complement to JT’s new fixed line full fibre (FTTP/H) broadband network on the island. Upon completion, it will also be one of the few networks globally to have end-to-end Ericsson 5G technology.

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Clevedon-based business, student and residential ISP Glide Group, which is separately still busy expanding their full fibre broadband network, has today announced that a recent funding boost from banking giant NatWest has enabled it to start preparing for an “ambitious expansion” of its high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity infrastructure too.

The investment will focus on delivering new connectivity to those living in high density developments, such as student accommodation, and purpose-built rental residences, as well as SMEs (small and medium sized businesses) based in remote business parks. This will see them building beyond their existing services in student hubs, such as Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester and London.

NatWest’s backing will also allow Glide to further develop its commercial offering, providing more small businesses and start-ups with access to high-speed broadband, although no details of this were provided. The firm said they’re “particularly committed to supporting business customers based in remote and hard-to-reach locations“.

The announcement comes several months after Glide announced that it had successfully completed the refinancing of its existing debt arrangements (here), which also included a new capex (capital expenditure) facility to support growth.

Tim Pilcher, CEO of Glide, said:

“The team at NatWest has become a significant lender in supporting Glide’s growth strategy. Their decision to join us as a key financial partner reflects confidence in our vision and the strength of our business model.

We look forward to building this new partnership as we continue expanding our fibre network, ensuring our customers receive the robust and seamless connectivity they rely on in today’s digital world.”

Stuart Allison, Relationship Director at NatWest, said:

“We’re committed to providing support for businesses of all sizes and whatever stage of their journey. Glide has been a valued NatWest customer for many years and we are thrilled to support the team’s continued growth and infrastructure investment through this latest funding deal.

This investment will enable Glide to expand its high-speed connectivity solutions to new markets, ensuring more businesses and residential areas benefit from their services.”

Glide’s most recent company accounts to the end of January 2024 (here) noted how their revenues had grown by 15% in the year to £27.9m and gross profit grew to £17.3m (up from £15.4m). The provider also onboarded 12,000 new student beds in the year, meaning they now serve a total of over 250,000 students with internet connectivity. Glide also added 7,000 new business units to their coverage and invested over £20.9m into their network (up from £19.6m in the previous year).

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Network analyst firm Streetwave has revealed that they’ve won yet another contract to map 4G and 5G mobile broadband coverage and performance in England, which will this time see them testing along 6,000km of the road network within the four councils covered by the local authority’s Superfast South Yorkshire project.

Streetwave have spent the past two years harnessing waste (bin / refuse) collection trucks to map mobile network coverage and speeds in various parts of the UK (e.g. here, here, here, here and here). In this setup, refuse trucks are installed with several off-the-shelf Smartphones using special software on top, which run continuous network tests (once every 20 metres in rural areas and 5m in urban areas) as the vehicles go around their routes.

The data they collect is then used by local authorities to help identify areas that may require additional intervention in order to improve local mobile coverage and or network capacity. In addition, members of the public have also been given access to some of this data via address-based coverage checkers and interactive maps (example).

The new deal will see mobile coverage quality being benchmarked across every road in each of the associated councils, including Barnsley Council, Sheffield City Council, Doncaster Council and the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council. Some 1,400,000 people live across this the region and will soon be able to access greater detail on local mobile connectivity.

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A little over a year has passed since broadband and telecoms giant BT announced a 10-year project, which aimed to convert a further 2,000 of the operator’s legacy payphones and kiosks – across more than 200 UK towns and cities – into smart Street Hubs, starting this year (here). But objections by some local authorities are starting to mount.

At the last update in March 2024, BT had already upgraded around 1,000 of their old payphone boxes to Street Hub 2 units, which typically offer features such as “up to” 1Gbps capable public WiFi internet connectivity (“within a 150-metre radius“), free UK calling, USB device charging, small cells to boost localised 4G or 5G mobile signals, local information / adverts via a large HD touchscreen display and environmental sensors etc.

However, the rollout seems to be running into a few obstacles, with the planning departments of several local authorities rejecting a growing number of BT’s proposed deployments. For example, 27 similar schemes were rejected in Bristol city centre last year, following 750 objections from members of the public.

In addition, similar rejections have recently occurred across locations such as Swindon and Salisbury in Wiltshire, Dursley and Stroud in Gloucestershire, and Bristol. Such objections are often particularly strong when BT has been looking to deploy the kiosks inside of conservation areas, where greater scrutiny is often to be expected.

Most of the rejections tend to highlight issues with the kiosk’s siting, design, scale and illumination (Punchl!ne). For example, the Dursely Town Council initially accepted the principle of BT’s idea, but ultimately described the kiosks as “alien” and “incongruous” – one of “an inappropriate design and appearance“.

Planners had something similar to say about BT’s future deployment in Bristol’s Staple Hill and Kingswood: “The proposals would occupy valuable walkway space, restricting the flow of pedestrian movement and hindering accessibility for individuals with mobility issues, serve as a distraction, and obstruct pedestrians’ views, thereby exacerbating safety risks for pedestrians.”

A BT Group Spokesperson told ISPreview:

“Street Hubs are digital units which support our Universal Service Obligation to provide a public call service in the UK. We work with council departments, community members, and BID (Business Improvement District) teams to refine our location selection process.

As well as offering connectivity to make calls and utilise free public Wi-Fi, Street Hubs also offer USBs for rapid device charging, touch-screen tablets displaying real-time public information and a dedicated 999 calling button.”

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Mobile network operator EE (BT) has today announced that they’ve “significantly” boosted the coverage and network capacity (mobile broadband performance) of their 5G network across Westminster (Central London), which has been achieved through the deployment of 80 new small cells via Ontix.

Small cells are akin to mini shoebox sized mobile (radio) base stations, which have been designed to deliver limited coverage (usually up to around 100 metres) and thus tend to be more focused on busy urban areas and specific sites – it’s not uncommon to find these sitting on top of lampposts, CCTV poles or old payphone cubicles (i.e. they can be more cost-effective than building new street assets or trying to secure wayleaves on buildings).

In this case, the latest deployment across Westminster – supported by the city council – appears to be utilising local lampposts. The small cell equipment has also been painted to blend with the local street furniture, thus “minimising visual impact while maximising functionality“.

James Hope, Director of Mobile Radio Access Networks at EE, said:

“This innovative small cell deployment with Ontix enhances 4G and 5G mobile connectivity for EE customers across the City of Westminster, one of London’s busiest areas serving not only as the centre of UK government but also a focal point for tourism and business. This project is the latest milestone in our network densification efforts as we continue to boost mobile capacity where it’s needed most across the UK.”

Similar small cells are also widely used by some of the network operator’s rivals, such as O2 that also works with Ontix, for the same purpose. EE has recently been deploying several hundred new small cells each year, so the Westminster roll-out makes for a significant chunk of that.

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Broadband operator AllPointsFibre Networks (APFN) has today signed a new deal with UK business ISP Onecom, which enables the internet service provider to provide business-grade Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) connections using APFN’s new aquila wholesale platform (an aggregated network using several operators).

Just to recap. Aquila now states that it’s available to c. 19 million UK homes and businesses, which is roughly in keeping with the respective network expansions of major partners at Openreach, BTWholesale and CityFibre. In addition, this platform also includes APFN’s own-built “full fibre” (FTTP) infrastructure via the recent consolidation of their three alternative networks – Giganet, Swish Fibre and Jurassic Fibre.

The Onecom and APFN deal also reflects the first time that Layer 3 Connectivity is delivered by APFN over the CityFibre network. The ability to access CityFibre’s network seems to be the key focus of this agreement.

Nisreen El-kaloush, APFN Chief Commercial Officer, said:

“Our agreement with Onecom is just the latest in a series of deals that we are signing to bring new partners on to aquila. We can’t wait to welcome Onecom on to the platform, and to start delivering amazing service experiences to their customers.”

Marcus Alves, Head of Product and Supplier Management at Onecom, said:

“By partnering with All Points Fibre Networks, Onecom is able to offer more businesses the opportunity to access high-performance fibre broadband. This collaboration will ensure that we can meet the growing demand for reliable connectivity, even in areas where traditional providers may not have the capacity to deliver.”

Layer 3 (L3) connectivity is typically intended for ISPs that want a managed solution (L3 services come with fully routed connectivity), but there are also Layer 2 (L2) services for those who want full control (i.e. routing, IP addressing, and network management).

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Network access provider Openreach (BT) has notified UK broadband ISPs of a 9-month delay to the planned launch of their new Ethernet Access Direct (EAD) v2.0 product for businesses, which appears to have been prompted by Ofcom’s current Telecoms Access Review 2026 (TAR). The move means that EAD 2 won’t become available until the end of 2026.

The EAD product is one of the operator’s most familiar Ethernet services and provides point-to-point data connectivity between sites (leased line). The service can be used to build and extend customer networks, develop new infrastructure, and meet network backhaul (capacity) requirements up to 10Gbps. But EAD is not a totally static product and has evolved a bit over the years, although EAD 2.0 aims to go much further.

Much as we first reported back in 2023, the EAD 2.0 product is expected to support various improvements. Some examples include new intermediary speed tiers (e.g. 2Gbps, 3Gbps), greater resilience, the ability to remotely upgrade bandwidths (assuming ISPs have the right optical kit installed) and it will seek to adopt a passive demarcation device with an inbuilt reflector (they currently use an active NTE that uses power).

Communication providers can also expect lower port costs, as well as lower space and power costs, among various other changes (summary). But provision and repair times seem unlikely to experience any radical changes, although all of this is tentative and thus still subject to some change.

Until recently we had been expecting EAD 2.0 to be launched next Spring 2026, but ISPs were this week notified of a 9-month delay – pushing it back to around December 2026. Openreach says this will give them the opportunity to further test and refine EAD 2 ready for its full launch. But the operator also blamed Ofcom’s ongoing market review, which is proposing changes to the leased line market definitions, its pricing and non-pricing remedies – these would apply from 1st April 2026.

In short, Openreach appear to be seeking some certainty before letting EAD 2.0 out into the wild, not least as Ofcom’s decisions may require new system capabilities (i.e. they’d need time to develop and test those). But this won’t impact the operator’s current plan to launch a 6-month phase 1 pilot of the new product in September 2025.

Speaking of the TAR, we didn’t see too many grumbles about EAD from rival providers, although Vodafone did talk-up the possibility of a “shrinkflation risk” with EAD 2.0 in their submission (i.e. when a product’s size / features are reduced while the price remains the same). But judging this is difficult before the final pricing is known, which may become easier once their pilot kicks off in a few short months.

“We have provided Ofcom with detailed information about how, during the course of market reviews, Openreach has altered the product offered, in effect shrinking its offer. Put simply, Openreach is currently able to charge more and deliver less,” said Vodafone, while worrying that the same accusation might befall EAD 2.0. Time will tell.

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The company insists it will not follow rivals like Verizon in scrapping DEI policies to gain regulatory approval for deals 

Following AT&T’s $5.75 billion deal to acquire Lumen Technologies’ fibre assets, CEO John Stankey has emphasised the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), even as political and regulatory hurdles have pushed rivals in the opposite direction. 

“We don’t have to roll back anything,” Stankey said, speaking to Yahoo Finance. “Our policies and our approach at AT&T have always been that we progress people on merit. That any employee that comes to work here should have an opportunity to grow their career, work on building their skills, have an opportunity to succeed and earn a living.”  

His comments contrast with moves made by competitors to forego DEI frameworks in order to appease regulators.  

Earlier this month, Verizon received FCC approval for its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, but only after agreeing to dismantle its DEI programme. In a letter to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, Verizon said it would remove diversity targets from hiring plans and strip DEI language from training and public messaging. 

 These changes that will also apply to Frontier once the deal closes. 

The move reflects a wider crackdown on corporate DEI initiatives in the US, with firms like Meta, Amazon, and Google also scaling back internal efforts to align with the Trump administration. 

Stankey acknowledged the political backdrop, but said he remains confident AT&T’s inclusive approach will stand up to regulatory scrutiny. “We run the business in a really responsible manner,” he said. 

The Lumen acquisition is expected to close early next year 2026, pending regulatory approval. 

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Also in the news:
AT&T agrees $5.75 billion deal for Lumen’s consumer fibre assets
Telefónica exits Uruguay in $440m Millicom deal
“You’re not keeping your word”: Louisiana fibre firm rails against Trump govt over BEAD delay