VoIP News: November 2008

Consumers have been warned that they should consider their download limits if they want to use the BBC's new live streaming service. The broadcaster began streaming its two main channels, BBC1 and BBC2 yesterday (November 27th). However, Michael Phillips, product director of BroadbandChoices.

Internet users in north Wales may be able to access the internet at greater speeds soon thanks to a new fibre-optic project. Around 200 miles of fibre cable has been installed from Holyhead on Anglesey to Manchester where it joins the UK's main broadband line as part of the £30 million FibreSpeed initiative. This will "substantially enhance" the internet experience of homes and businesses between Caernarfon and Wrexham, according to the deputy first minister of Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones.

Broadband is the "crucial underpinning" of Europe which can compete with the rest of the world, the communications minister has said. Stephen Carter was speaking ahead of a European Council meeting on the Electronic Communications and Networks Framework in Brussels today (November 27th). He said that the discussions would be "critical" for broadband technology in Europe and added that he had been pressing for the issue to be addressed.

The government should focus on improving broadband speed and coverage, rather than investing in the expansion of public service broadcasting, a think thank has claimed. According to the Social Market Foundation (SMF), high-speed broadband would be able to provide more public content with greater efficiency than existing broadcasting channels. However, it warned that the country's infrastructure will need to be enhanced and coverage widened to ensure the UK's digital divide does not become greater.

Mobile internet is experiencing faster growth in the UK than desktop-based, according to new research. A study by Nielsen Online found that 7. 3 million people used mobile internet in the third quarter of 2008, compared to 5.