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The government and legal industry are putting pressure on internet service providers to block access to websites that infringe copyright and cancel user accounts if they share protected files.:

Virgin Media, Talk Talk and BT have joined forces with a number of other broadband providers to write an open letter to the Financial Times stating their opposition to an amendment to the government's digital economy bill. The amendment would see providers having to block websites which feature material which infringes copyright. They say that this move would impact on freedom of speech and the future of the internet. They say that the move would not address the problem of copyright infringement.

Protesters in Exeter have been making their feeling heard by waving placards outside the Virgin store in their high street. The 60 protesters were demonstrating about the level of broadband speeds in their town; a debate which has been ongoing for some time. Organised by student Chris Fullbrook, the protest was part of an ongoing campaign to get better speeds in Exeter.

Research from Virgin Media has shown that 25% of people aged between 18 and 30 would like to run their own business but that worries over a lack of experience stop them from putting it into practise. In response, the broadband provider has launched their Virgin Media Pioneers scheme in partnership with Enterprise UK, which will offer advice to young people on setting up their own business. Neil Birkett from Virgin said that the scheme was designed to show all the opportunities available from the digital world and as Virgin is a brand founded on entrepreneurial spirit, they are the perfect partner to achieve these goals.


The British Phonograph Industry have entered the copyright debate by suggesting that service providers should bundle together premium music download services with other broadband packages. They have released a report which shows that providers could make as much as £100m over the next four years by doing so. Analyst firm Ovum worked with the BPI to release the report and commented that providers could tap into a huge market which isn't currently reached by mainstream download services such as iTunes. They also point out that offering legal download services could give them an edge over their competitors. A spokesperson from Talk Talk has pointed out however that they do already have a legal music download facility, as do other providers and it does not change the fact that copyright protection proposals threaten freedom of speech and human rights.


Research by the BBC World Service has shown that 80% of those questioned felt that broadband access was a fundamental right. The survey involved listeners from 26 nations and showed that even those in currently under-served countries felt they had to right to access. The Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union commented on the survey by saying that everyone should have the ability to participate in the most powerful tool for information ever created. Finland have made broadband access a human right and have written it into their legislation, the only country to do so.


British consumers who earn less than £11,500 per year have been polled by Consumer Focus in their Broadband Minded study. They found that those on low incomes felt that the ability to save money by using the internet was not relevant to them as they did not have debit or credit cards. In response, the watchdog has urged the Government to advertise ways people on low incomes could use the internet even without cards. They also pointed out that many people had fears about the safety of information on the internet, another point which the Government needs to deal with.


A study from market research firm IDATE has shown that the growth rate in Fibre to the Home broadband across Europe has increased to 29% from 19% between June and December of 2009. This means that 3.5 million more people have subscribed to the service. Unfortunately the UK has not made it into the top seven countries in the poll which was topped by Norway and Sweden.


The rights to sell the new iPad will be fought for this week as executives from Apple head to London to talk with the heads of various mobile providers. O2 already has exclusive rights to sell the iPhone, but it is thought that multiple providers will gain the right to sell the iPad. Apple insist that they take a cut of the data charge and of any apps sold. This is unusual for the manufacturer of any device - but not unusual for Apple who just charged me £35 to replace my mouse ... £35 for a mouse!!! † [last update: 11.03.10]

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