Monthly Archives: March 2017

BT fined record £42m by Ofcom

2017-03-29T08:46:03+01:00By |News|

Ofcom's reaction to Openreach broadband installation delays was a record £42m fine, but according to Bamboo Technology Group MD Lorrin White there remains big questions over how quickly the UK's fixed line network can be improved. "As a provider working in the fixed line arena for nearly 20 years we are used to the complexities and moving goalposts of Openreach's compensation processes so are not surprised to learn that rules have been breached to avoid successful claims," she said. "While the fine reflects the significant impact that late installations have on businesses and was deemed a justified figure by Ofcom, I hope it will instigate the shake-up required to avoid such rule flouting in the future. Openreach has already agreed to meet Ofcom's demands to become a separate company - a step we wholeheartedly support and agree with - but as a telecoms provider that works with Openreach every day we only want it to succeed. "Openreach needs to commit everything it can to significant nationwide fibre investment. To do that it needs all the resources it can get."

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BT and Ofcom agree deal to legally separate Openreach

2017-03-10T16:58:55+00:00By |News|

BT and Ofcom have reached agreement on a long-term regulatory settlement that will see Openreach become a distinct, legally separate company with its own Board within the BT Group. The agreement is based upon voluntary commitments submitted by BT that the regulator has said meet its competition concerns. Once the agreement is implemented around 32,000 employees will transfer to the new Openreach Limited following TUPE consultation, and once pension arrangements are in place. Openreach Limited will have its own branding, which will not feature the BT logo. The Openreach CEO will report to the Openreach Chairman with accountability to the BT Group Chief Executive with regards to certain legal and fiduciary duties that are consistent with BT's responsibilities as a listed company. Gavin Patterson, BT Chief Executive, said: "I believe this agreement will serve the long-term interests of millions of UK households, businesses and service providers that rely on our infrastructure. It will also end a period of uncertainty for our people and support further investment in the UK's digital infrastructure. "This has been a long and challenging review where we have been balancing a number of competing interests. We have listened to criticism of our business and as a result are willing to make fundamental changes to the way Openreach will work in the future." The transfer of around 32,000 employees, under TUPE regulations, will be one of the largest such transfers in UK corporate history. It will take place once the agreement has been implemented and pension arrangements are in place for these employees. Under the agreement, Openreach will manage and operate its assets and trading but ownership of those assets and trading will remain with BT. The agreement builds on changes that BT has already made to the governance of Openreach in recent months. These include the [...]

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BT denies squeezing customers after paying £1.2bn for Champions League

2017-03-08T15:17:32+00:00By |News|

BT has denied customers are being forced to foot the bill for a new £1.2bn Champions League football rights deal after securing the contract in the wake of inflation-busting price rises for its broadband and phone services. The group has paid £1.18bn to fend off Sky and renew exclusive broadcast rights for Champions League and Europa League football. The deal which runs from 2018 to 2021, represents a 32% increase on the cost of its current three-year contract. The rights win comes after the telecoms group prompted outrage among customers and consumer groups for introducing its third price hike in 18 months at the start of the year. In January, BT said it was to raise the cost of broadband and calls. It also announced that BT Sport will no longer be given away free to its BT TV customers and that it would begin charging them £3.50 a month for the service from August. The broadband and phone call price rises will affect about 10 million customers from 2 April, equating to increases of about 5% to 6%. Analysis BT's £1.2bn Champions League splurge is price of staying in Sky game The telecoms group needed to win at all costs after a rocky year – though it may face a tougher battle over the Premier League Read more BT denied customers were being squeezed to fund its battle with Sky for premium sports rights. “I don’t think that is true,” said John Petter, the chief executive of BT’s consumer division. “The broadband market is very competitive. Our share of the broadband market has been growing and customers vote with their feet [if they are unhappy]. The fact that the market is competitive means our offering has to represent good value for money. Line rental has not increased, for example. [...]

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Avaya targets mid-market with cloud solutions and signs distributor ScanSource

2017-03-08T15:09:19+00:00By |News|

Sensing the mid-market shift towards cloud adoption Avaya has targeted this high growth sector with the launch of new cloud solutions and signed ScanSource as its first EU wholesale provider for cloud comms. The cloud offering, which sits under the banner 'Powered by Avaya', enables channel partners to deliver the vendor's UC, contact centre and video conferencing solutions according to the deployment requirements of end users, whether on-premises, hybrid cloud or fully hosted. Avaya is also working with wholesale distribution partners to deliver a complete cloud solution for partners including billing, provisioning and other back-end systems. Partners have the option to host and maintain Avaya cloud services in their own data centres and sell directly to customers, wrapping additional services around the core product. Powered by Avaya has already been rolled out with selected Avaya channel partners in the UK. The UK's mid-sized businesses account for one-third of private-sector turnover, and added more jobs to the economy last year than smaller businesses and FTSE 350 companies combined, according to business advisory firm BDO. Furthermore, the European cloud market is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23.2%. Avaya UK MD Ioan MacRae (pictured) said: "The mid-market sector is the engine room of the UK economy, but is all too-often overlooked with vendors either focusing on larger enterprise customers or providing solutions that don't deliver the scalability, resiliency, and flexibility mid-market customers are looking for." In addressing the market ScanSource will provide reseller partners with cloud solutions Powered by IP Office. MacRae added: "By combining with ScanSource, we can more effectively reach the indirect channel, enabling resellers to leverage our cloud-based solutions and create offerings that meet today's digital business needs." James Vickerage, President, ScanSource Imago, added: "This partnership with Avaya will enable us to give our partners [...]

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