Latest UK broadband news
Starlink’s next satellites could bring “5G-like” phone connections in 2027
Summary SpaceX says it plans to start launching a second-generation batch of Starlink “Direct to Cell” satellites in 2027, with timing pointing to late in the year. A regulatory filing says SpaceX’s first-generation satellite-to-phone service launched with T-Mobile in July 2025 and
Broadband Survey: One in Four Say £4 Annual Rise Is Too Much
Summary An Opinium poll for Uswitch found 24% of UK adults would find a £4-a-month broadband price rise unmanageable. People said they would accept an average increase of £2.70 a month before they would consider cancelling or switching. Respondents reported an average
Virgin Media and Vodafone lead on reliable broadband speeds
Summary Opensignal’s 2025 UK Fixed Broadband Experience report uses user testing data collected from 3 July to 29 September 2025. Virgin Media takes first place across every UK-wide category Opensignal publishes (including quality, speeds, video streaming and reliability). Nationally, Virgin Media records
Vodafone activates Who’s Home tracking on the Ultra Hub 7 broadband router
Summary Vodafone UK has added “Who’s Home” arrival/leave alerts to the Ultra Hub 7 router on Pro 3 home broadband packages. The app flags “home” when an opted-in phone connects to Wi-Fi, and “out” when it disconnects. Household members must opt in
EE broadband gets Wi-Fi 7 router upgrade ahead of 8.5Gbps test launch
Summary EE now includes Wi-Fi 7 hardware on every full fibre plan as standard, starting with the new Smart Hub 7 Plus. Plans start from £28.99 for 74Mbps and go up to £75.99 for 1.6Gbps with all Ultimate features included. Customers can
Freely coming to TiVo OS streaming devices in 2026
Summary TiVo OS has been approved to support Freely on streaming devices such as boxes and sticks, expanding beyond smart TVs. Freely is Everyone TV’s broadband-based platform offering free live and on-demand channels from major UK broadcasters. First TiVo OS devices with
Sky steers new sign-ups to Glass and Stream as Sky Q goes offline
Summary Sky has removed Sky Q from online ordering, pushing new TV sign-ups towards Sky Glass and Sky Stream instead. Sky Q is still available via phone and in-store, but the website journey now promotes streaming hardware as the default choice. Sky
Government signals continuity on telecoms price hikes
Summary Government will not ban mid-contract price rises on broadband, mobile or landline deals. Ofcom’s 2025 rules still allow in-contract increases if they are set out in pounds and pence upfront. Big brands now use flat annual hikes of a few pounds
CityFibre plans 50Gbps upgrade first, 100Gbps to follow in 2030s
Summary CityFibre has finished upgrading its full fibre network to 10Gbps-capable XGS-PON, enabling multi-gigabit wholesale products up to 5.5Gbps. The operator plans to roll out 50G-PON first for business connections by 2032, with residential upgrades expected to follow in the 2030s. CityFibre
More time online, fewer believe it helps society – Ofcom report
Summary UK adults spend 4 hours 30 minutes online each day, with younger adults using the internet the most. 5% of adults still have no home internet access, mostly older age groups with little interest in getting connected. Alphabet and Meta services
