Student broadband guide published by Ofcom
Ofcom has published a new guide which aims to enable students to make a better decision on the broadband package best suited for their needs when they are completing their degrees.
This report has been compiled by telco and broadcasting watchdog Ofcom. The document has been designed at making sure that youngsters get a proper deal from their service provider and suggested asking particular questions before they make a proper decision.
A particular factor that they will have to consider is to whether to go for a mobile or fixed broadband option because an inclusive landline wouldn’t be required and could possibly cause more issues when the issue of paying bills in shared property comes about.
However, having fixed broadband means that you can make use of the more reliable and faster choice as well as bringing about more better download limits if you are considering to use your broadband connections for more than emails and browsing the internet.
Once this decision has been arrived at, the report recommends that you check the property in which you are residing for a phone socket. You should then contact your potential service provider to see whether the line is working or whether it has to be re – connected.
The report says that there are a variety of factors that students have to take into consideration when moving away from their home for the first time. However, the report asks whether the student has thought about the ways in which you will keep in touch with family and friends or how you will send in that email when you have a deadline.
During the last month, Ofcom made the announcement that there are over 6 million unbundled broadband lines present in the country, meaning that consumers have a larger choice when it comes to making a choice on selecting a wired web connection.
Increase in number of broadband connection in UK noted by Ofcom
The communications regulator, Ofcom, has noted that there has been an increase in the number of broadband connections present in the country, which is now numbering 17.5 million.
The number of people adopting broadband connections have been increasing over the past couple of years with a large number of providers providing a variety of packages that are very easily accessible for a lot of people in addition to being affordable.
The figures from Ofcom have revealed that the number of broadband connections in the country are now in the range of 17.6 million. The number of connections currently in use in the country as at the end of the first quarter show up an increase of about 1.6% when compared to the last quarter of last year, according to the Ofcom Telecommunications Market Data Tables.
About 4.6 million of the broadband connections currently in place are said to be provided by BT Retail, which emerged as the top provider and more than 3.4 million broadband connections, according to the report, are being provided by the other providers. About 3.7 million broadband connections are said to be provided by Virgin Media cable. While BT, as of now, has a bigger market share than its biggest rival, Virgin Media, the new 50 Mbps connection along with the discounted prices being offered by Virgin could possibly see Virgin overtaking BT as the biggest broadband provider in the country.
A study conducted recently has revealed that the fastest broadband down – link speeds being offered come from Virgin Media with the average speed being around 7.42 Mbps, a factor which, they say, could increase the number of customers who switch from BT or from other broadband providers to Virgin Media, thereby possibly resulting in Virgin Media becoming the most dominant player in the market with the highest market share.
Web TV regulations launched by Ofcom
The telecommunications and broadcasting regulating authority, Ofcom, recently published a report pertaining to the video-on-demand (VOD). Such implementation from the watchdog could mean a changed landscape for this particular sector which enjoys monstrous traffic from broadband consumers.
The recent years saw consumers’ great accessibility and wide-ranged choice of facilities and services, among them 4oD, SkyPlayer and BBC iPlayer, including different clip hosting sites on the web.
These new proposals are deemed necessary to properly regulate the VOD market movements, and Ofcom sees a number of content suppliers being intently monitored. The watchdog also explained that the revised European law indicates that providers must stick to specified broadcasting rules.
For consumers, the VOD implementation means they are getting protection by the basic content standard because the law enforces stricter adherence to the European Union’s regulatory bodies. Ofcom elaborates that they are merely ensuring that consumers will be on the right track as provided by the EU audiovisual services directive.
Such change in processes which takes effect in December 19 are deemed to make a deep impact on users of both Virgin Media and BT Vision which both allows the iPlayer options in their services.
Oxfam and many groups however see these regulations to render greater positivity toward users and viewers. This is because among the indicated laws are regulations against inciting hatred towards groups based on race, sex, religion and nationality. The authorities will also closely monitor contents that might impair any developmental aspects of minors, particularly their mental and moral enrichment.
While many conservative groups are thankful and hoping for the laws to be enforced, they are also contemplating on including private websites and portals like YouTube to be included in the Oxfam jurisdiction, including electronic versions of newspapers from all over the world.
