UK broadband bills are likely to rise, according to digital minister Matt Hancock, cited in the Telegraph, after the Government proposed that BT be allowed to include the costs of providing internet service to millions of rural Britons in its wholesale prices. Sky and TalkTalk are putting pressure on Ofcom to cut prices further based on claims of excessive profits made by Openreach. TalkTalk has called for the creation of a joint industry fund to pay for rural costs, which it says should be considered separately. BT and Virgin Media suggest strict proposals will curb investment in rolling out ultra-fast fibre optics. New technology will be installed in rural cabinets to send more powerful broadband signals along long telephone lines. The government is also considering whether to allow telecoms firms to charge customers extra fees if they use their own equipment rather than using one provided by another company.
UK broadband bills are likely to rise, according to digital minister Matt Hancock, cited in the Telegraph, after the Government proposed that BT be allowed to include the costs of providing internet service to millions of rural Britons in its wholesale prices. Sky and TalkTalk are putting pressure on Ofcom to cut prices further based on claims of excessive profits made by Openreach. TalkTalk has called for the creation of a joint industry fund to pay for rural costs, which it says should be considered separately. BT and Virgin Media suggest strict proposals will curb investment in rolling out ultra-fast fibre optics. The government is also considering whether to allow telecoms firms to charge customers extra fees if they use their own equipment rather than using one provided by another company.