The European Commission has launched a public consultation seeking answers to questions on transparency, switching and certain aspects of Internet traffic management, with a view to its commitment to preserve the open and neutral character of the Internet. The Commission notes that such questions have emerged as key issues in the ‘net neutrality’ debate that […]
A drop in file-sharing following the courts blocking of the Pirate Bay was short-lived, according to the BBC. A major UK ISP has reported peer-to-peer activity on its network returned to just below normal only a week after the measures were enforced earlier this year. Critics had warned the ban would prove ineffective. BPI, the […]
Despite the closure of The Pirate Bay, Dutch ISP XS4All has claimed that BitTorrent traffic has increased. Anti-Piracy group BREIN this week stated that 90 per cent of Dutch Internet users can no longer access the BitTorrent site directly. However, the group neglected to mention that many users now employ proxy sites to access the […]
Following much-criticised delays, open IPTV platform YouView has finally launched, with confirmation that Humax-produced set-top boxes will be available via UK retail outlets towards the end of July at a cost of £299. YouView CEO Richard Halton revealed that Sky’s online service NOW TV would be a content partner. Describing the launch as “a great […]
BT has become the UK’s final major Internet service provider to block The Pirate Bay, following a high court order for ISPs to censor the torrent-sharing site. In April 2012, the British High Court forced six major providers to block access to the website. BT asked for more time to respond to the court order, […]
Mike Darcey, BSkyB’s COO, has admitted the pay-TV operator’s planned OTT service ‘Now TV’ could be carried on open IPTV platform YouView, scheduled for launch later in the summer of 2012. Although BSkyB had expressed concern that public money had been used to support a project for which he felt the market should determine a […]
According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics – Service Provider Quarterly Recap and Guidance: BSkyB (BSY): CYQ1’12 – BSkyB followed up on a strong CYQ4’11 by adding an impressive 212,000 broadband subscribers in the first quarter of 2012. At the same time, the company added only 15,000 new pay-TV subscribers. This marks a new […]
The UK Government has outlined the next stages in its review of communications policy. The announcement follows recent speculation that the process was being delayed as a result of the uncertainty surrounding the position of Media Secretary Jeremy Hunt, whose continuation the post had been called into question amid suggestions that he had expressed support […]
O2 and Be Broadband are the latest UK ISPs to block The Pirate Bay. Be Broadband has already started blocking access to the bittorrent tracker, with O2, which owns Be’s network, starting its blocking measures today. O2 and Be Broadband, along with BT, Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk and Everything Everywhere were issued a court order […]
EU Commission VP Neelie Kroes has revealed plans to create new recommendations on net neutrality for ISPs. Kroes said she still wants to provide consumers with more transparency and choice in their Internet services. She plans three recommendations: for ISPs to provide clear information on actual, ‘real-life’ broadband speeds, more detailed information on limits to […]