This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/uk-telecoms-firms-unite-on-campaign-to-avoid-network-outage
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| UK telecoms firms unite on campaign to avoid network outage | UK telecoms firms unite on campaign to avoid network outage |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Seven tips offered to reduce pressure on broadband, phone and mobile services during coronavirus lockdown | Seven tips offered to reduce pressure on broadband, phone and mobile services during coronavirus lockdown |
| Britain’s biggest telecoms companies including BT, Sky, O2, Vodafone and Virgin Media have put their rivalries aside to launch a national campaign to tell the public how to manage the surge in internet and mobile phone usage and reduce congestion on networks as millions are confined to their homes. | |
| The unprecedented union of the UK’s leading broadband, pay-TV and mobile phone companies comes days after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, moved to shut Britain’s high streets and ordered the public to stay indoors to contain the spread of the coronavirus. | The unprecedented union of the UK’s leading broadband, pay-TV and mobile phone companies comes days after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, moved to shut Britain’s high streets and ordered the public to stay indoors to contain the spread of the coronavirus. |
| The campaign, coordinated by media regulator Ofcom, will run across digital and social media as well as direct communications to the tens of millions of customers signed up to broadband, mobile and TV deals with the UK’s largest providers. | The campaign, coordinated by media regulator Ofcom, will run across digital and social media as well as direct communications to the tens of millions of customers signed up to broadband, mobile and TV deals with the UK’s largest providers. |
| “Families across the country are going online together this week, often juggling work and keeping children busy at the same time,” said Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom. “So we’re encouraging people to read our advice on getting the most from their broadband, home phones and mobiles.” | “Families across the country are going online together this week, often juggling work and keeping children busy at the same time,” said Melanie Dawes, chief executive of Ofcom. “So we’re encouraging people to read our advice on getting the most from their broadband, home phones and mobiles.” |
| The information campaign, called Stay Connected, offers seven tips to reduce pressure on networks including staggering family activity, switching off wifi on devices that aren’t being used, and choosing a landline or wifi calling over using a mobile network. | The information campaign, called Stay Connected, offers seven tips to reduce pressure on networks including staggering family activity, switching off wifi on devices that aren’t being used, and choosing a landline or wifi calling over using a mobile network. |
| The campaign follows European Commission officials reaching agreements with Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, YouTube, and the newest entry in the streaming wars, Disney+, to reduce streaming video speeds for 30 days to cut the weight of internet traffic in the UK and Europe. | The campaign follows European Commission officials reaching agreements with Netflix, Amazon’s Prime Video, YouTube, and the newest entry in the streaming wars, Disney+, to reduce streaming video speeds for 30 days to cut the weight of internet traffic in the UK and Europe. |
| The French government went as far as asking that Disney+, which launched in the UK and six western European markets on Tuesday, waited until 7 April to launch, over fears that under virus lockdown, the popularity of hits such as the Star Wars live action spin-off The Mandalorian might hobble the national broadband network. | The French government went as far as asking that Disney+, which launched in the UK and six western European markets on Tuesday, waited until 7 April to launch, over fears that under virus lockdown, the popularity of hits such as the Star Wars live action spin-off The Mandalorian might hobble the national broadband network. |
| “Right now we need people to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives,” said Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary. “Reliable internet speeds will be crucial so we can work from home where possible, stay connected with our families and keep up to date with the latest health information.” | “Right now we need people to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives,” said Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary. “Reliable internet speeds will be crucial so we can work from home where possible, stay connected with our families and keep up to date with the latest health information.” |
| Despite being a global laggard in the rollout of full fibre broadband, the gold standard of internet speed available to just 10% of homes nationwide, the UK’s telecoms companies remain supremely confident that the national network can handle the traffic load exacerbated by the shift to working at home and the closure of schools. The surge of stay-at-home activities has been symbolised by the huge popularity of a livestream YouTube work out by Joe Wicks, the celebrity fitness expert who runs a daily PE class that has attracted more than a million families. | Despite being a global laggard in the rollout of full fibre broadband, the gold standard of internet speed available to just 10% of homes nationwide, the UK’s telecoms companies remain supremely confident that the national network can handle the traffic load exacerbated by the shift to working at home and the closure of schools. The surge of stay-at-home activities has been symbolised by the huge popularity of a livestream YouTube work out by Joe Wicks, the celebrity fitness expert who runs a daily PE class that has attracted more than a million families. |
| While the UK’s broadband network appears ready to take the traffic increase, there is concern about the mobile phone network. Last week, the amount of mobile phone calls made by at-home workers temporarily overloaded the system that connects the UK’s mobile operators. Mobile operator O2 saw a 50% surge in the number of phone calls on the day of the network collapse, with calls on average lasting 40% longer than usual. On Friday, ministers, Ofcom and telecoms chiefs discussed the issue, with reassurances given that networks can handle months of lockdown conditions. | While the UK’s broadband network appears ready to take the traffic increase, there is concern about the mobile phone network. Last week, the amount of mobile phone calls made by at-home workers temporarily overloaded the system that connects the UK’s mobile operators. Mobile operator O2 saw a 50% surge in the number of phone calls on the day of the network collapse, with calls on average lasting 40% longer than usual. On Friday, ministers, Ofcom and telecoms chiefs discussed the issue, with reassurances given that networks can handle months of lockdown conditions. |