BT has no love of the old BT Cellnet network or Vodafone. Jumps in bed with EE.

BT has today moved one step closer to expanding their mobile solutions after it signed an “exclusive” multi-year agreement with EE (Everything Everywhere), which will provide the predominantly fixed line telecoms firm with Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) services.

The deal, which is still subject to final contract, effectively means that BT has chosen to replace its existing 9-year MVNO agreement with Vodafone in favour ofEE. BT said that the operator would work to “ensure a seamless transition for customers“.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/10/ee-sign-deal-provide-uk-mobile-virtual-network-operator-services-bt.html

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AAISP jumping the BE ship in unsteady waters.

It makes sense. Sky don't really do B2B unless you count The Cloud which is owned by them and Easynet which they have ties to since the purchase of their LLU network.  Sky having no wholesale entity it would make things tricky for AAISP, although O2 were supposed to be keeping their wholesale business going on the LLU platform under which I presume AAISP would have been served.

It'll be a loss in terms of subscriber count but then again AAISP, although very technical in nature are rather expensive so I wonder just how many subscribers that will be in terms of losses.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/08/aaisp-uk-migrating-o2-wholesale-lines-to-talktalk-after-bskyb-concerns.html

Sky quarterly results.

Sky's march continues with some good natural growth in the broadband sector. It'll look even better if the O2 customer migrate inwards as smoothly as possible.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/05/isp-sky-broadband-uk-grows-to-4-million-subscribers.html

O2 ropes in BT to help with its 4G rollout

Whats more interesting is the rumours that BT might be looking to get back into the mobile business. Having sold off Cellnet many years ago, its an interesting move but its probably worth some exploration with the low latency that 4G brings.

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2264667/o2-ropes-in-bt-to-help-with-its-4g-rollout

Virgin Media UK Grows to Reach 4.49 Million Cable Broadband Users

Lots of interesting content in the link below.

VM were knocked of the No.2 spot for customer broadband by Sky when they bought O2.

I think they've probably gone in the right direction with backhaul services. It keeps OpenReach competitive and keeps them diverse. Sky probably makes money from selling channels to Virgin Media so those two seem very intertwined these days with that new about them buying VM's backhaul.

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/04/virgin-media-uk-grows-to-reach-4-49-million-cable-broadband-users.html

Sky dismisses network strain ahead of O2 and Be migration

The key bit in the CNET article is Sky don't traffic manage like most of the others with unlimited download usage.

Also I'm sure they've seen from other large buyouts such as the Tiscali / Talk Talk one that public opinion is a fragile thing, so they won't be wanting any large mistakes... They wouldn't chose to migrate them if they couldn't...

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/sky-dismisses-network-strain-ahead-of-o2-and-be-migration-50010583/

Sky buys O2 and BE from Telefonica

Ah the fun and games of the broadband industry.

This does raise some interesting questions such as the more customised services BE provide.
Static IP blocks, bonded lines and I think they also do Annex M, all of which, sky don't offer.

Again, will Telefonica be handing over their RIPE assigned IPv4 blocks? Half a million subscribers isn't a huge amount comparatively (See Sky's growth rate) in terms of market share but it does raise network issues for any provider with IPv4 running out.

Plusnet has recently been looking at carrier grade NAT, BE recently had a BETA firmware suggesting IPv6 support. This will be interesting.

In my opinion Sky does a good job of keeping things simple and this has lead to their success. The majority of people just want a non strings attached simple services for a fixed price.

The problem won't be the migration it's self. These are pretty painless these days (i've been through enough to know). It'll be keeping the customers happy. That shouldn't be too bad as O2 and BE customers definitely want and unlimited service. In fact a lot of customers might actually make savings if they already have Sky TV. The main issue is going to be those static IP's... Lets hope Sky create a third package to suit them. It'll cost more but i'd definitely pay a little more for a static Address.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21627614

More detail:
http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/03/uk-isp-o2-and-be-unlimited-sell-home-broadband-service-to-bskyb.html

http://www.o2.co.uk/broadband/broadbandchanges

AAISP UK Slaps Fluidata and O2 Wholesale for Backhaul Network Congestion

If I didn't have access to free broadband then I'd almost certainly be with AAISP, being fully IPv6 capable a bit more geared towards the tech savy audience they appeal to me. They have recently been very vocal on a few issues wuch as OpenReach engineers (rightly so).

So it's interesting that the once prized services of O2 / Be There have come under fire from them:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2013/02/aaisp-uk-slaps-fluidata-and-o2-wholesale-for-backhaul-network-congestion.html

O2 telephony issues

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/02/12/crossed_lines/

O2 is increasing its contract prices - The Inquirer

Not a good time for O2 really. They've been bleeding subscribers on the broadband side due to playing catchup with products and now they'll be shedding a few more here unless the other providers follow.

O2 is increasing its contract prices- The Inquirer

O2 dumps network partner Ericsson after major outages- The Inquirer

O2 dumps network partner Ericsson after major outages- The Inquirer