Britain should maintain competition in the broadband market to boost full-fibre coverage to 96% of premises by 2027 while capping prices on slower-speed services, UK telecoms regulator Ofcom announced on Thursday.
The cap would limit what BT’s Openreach can charge for connections up to 80Mbit/s, an increase from the current 40Mbit/s limit.
Ofcom’s previous measures, including encouraging new providers to use Openreach’s infrastructure, have helped increase full-fibre coverage from under 25% to nearly 70% of homes.
It now proposes keeping high-speed broadband prices free from regulation until 2031 while ensuring affordability for those relying on older copper-fibre connections.
In rural areas where commercial networks are less viable, Ofcom plans to support Openreach in expanding full-fibre access. The regulator’s consultation on these proposals will run until June 12, with final decisions expected in March 2026. BT shares rose 0.5% following the announcement.
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Britain should use its strengths in AI to shape how the technology is deployed worldwide, according to DeepMind founder Demis Hassabis.
Hassabis highlighted the country’s leading universities and skilled workforce as key factors in maintaining a competitive edge. Speaking at a Google AI event, he stressed the economic and geopolitical importance of ensuring AI development aligns with ethical and practical standards.
The UK government is working to boost AI innovation, with advanced technology at the centre of discussions between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US officials.
Google has announced upgrades to its AI offerings in Britain, including expanded UK data residency for its work productivity tool, Google Agentspace. Meanwhile, tech rival Oracle has pledged a $5 billion investment in Britain over the next five years to support growing demand for cloud services.
Hassabis also called for global standards on the use of copyrighted material in AI development, noting the challenges of regulating models used across different countries.
Google’s AI expansion includes the addition of its Chirp 3 audio generation model to Vertex AI, enhancing cloud services with human-like voice capabilities. The UK remains a key player in the AI sector, with industry leaders pushing for policies that ensure responsible and effective deployment of the technology.
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The UK’s internet watchdog, Ofcom, has launched a new enforcement programme under the Online Safety Act (OSA), targeting storage and file-sharing services due to concerns over the sharing of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
The regulator has identified these services as particularly vulnerable to misuse for distributing CSAM and will assess the safety measures in place to prevent such activities.
As part of the enforcement programme, Ofcom has contacted a number of file-storage and sharing services, warning them that formal information requests will be issued soon.
These requests will require the services to submit details on the measures they have implemented or plan to introduce to combat CSAM, along with risk assessments related to illegal content.
Failure to comply with the requirements of the OSA could result in substantial penalties for these companies, with fines reaching up to 10% of their global annual turnover.
Ofcom’s crackdown highlights the growing responsibility for online services to prevent illegal content from being shared on their platforms.
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Google is intensifying its investment in the UK’s AI sector, with plans to expand its data residency offerings and launch new tools for businesses.
At an event in London, Google’s DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis and Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian unveiled plans to add Agentspace, Google’s platform for AI agents, to the UK’s data residency region.
However, this move will allow enterprises to host their AI agents locally, ensuring full control over their data.
In addition to the data residency expansion, Google announced new incentives for AI startups in the UK, offering up to £280,000 in Google Cloud credits for those participating in its accelerator programme.
These efforts come as part of a broader strategy to encourage businesses to adopt Google’s AI services over those of competitors. The company is also focusing on expanding AI skills training to help businesses better leverage these advanced technologies.
Google’s efforts align with the UK government’s push to strengthen its position in the global AI landscape. The government has been actively working to promote AI development, with a particular focus on building services that reduce reliance on big tech companies.
By bringing its latest AI offerings to the UK, Google is positioning itself as a key player in the country’s AI future.
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Teachers in Stoke-on-Trent gathered for a full-day event to discuss the role of AI in education. Organised by the Good Future Foundation, the session saw more than 40 educators, including Stoke-on-Trent South MP Allison Gardner, explore how AI can enhance teaching and learning. Gardner emphasised the government’s belief that AI represents a ‘generational opportunity’ for education in the UK.
The event highlighted both the promise and the challenges of integrating AI into UK schools. Attendees shared ideas on using AI to improve communication, particularly with families who speak English as an additional language, and to streamline access to school resources through automated chatbots. While the potential benefits are clear, many teachers expressed concerns about the risks associated with new technology.
Daniel Emmerson, executive director of the Good Future Foundation, stressed the importance of supporting educators in understanding and implementing AI. He explained that AI can help prepare students for a future dominated by this technology. Meanwhile, schools like Belgrave St Bartholomew’s Academy are already leading the way in using AI to improve lessons and prepare students for the opportunities AI will bring.
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Technology Secretary Peter Kyle has been using ChatGPT to seek advice on media appearances and to define technical terms related to his role.
His records, obtained by New Scientist through freedom of information laws, reveal that he asked the AI tool for recommendations on which podcasts to feature and for explanations of terms like ‘digital inclusion’ and ‘anti-matter.’
ChatGPT suggested The Infinite Monkey Cage and The Naked Scientists due to their broad reach and scientific focus.
Kyle also inquired why small and medium-sized businesses in the UK have been slow to adopt AI. The chatbot pointed to factors such as a lack of awareness about government initiatives, funding limitations, and concerns over data protection regulations like GDPR.
While AI adoption remains a challenge, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has praised its potential, arguing that the UK government should embrace AI more to improve efficiency.
Despite Kyle’s enthusiasm for AI, he has faced criticism for allegedly prioritising the interests of Big Tech over Britain’s creative industries. Concerns have been raised over a proposed policy that could allow tech firms to train AI on copyrighted material without permission unless creators opt out.
His department defended his use of AI, stating that while he utilises the tool, it does not replace expert advice from officials.
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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that the mobile browser market, led by Apple and Google, is not functioning effectively for consumers and businesses. The findings support the regulator’s decision to launch an investigation into the sector earlier this year.
Concerns are largely focused on Apple’s policies regarding internet access through its Safari browser, which dominates its devices with an 88% market share. Google’s Chrome browser holds a 77% share on Android devices.
The UK CMA’s independent inquiry group suggested that if Apple and Google are found to have ‘strategic market status’ (SMS), regulatory interventions may be necessary to encourage competition. These could include measures allowing rival browsers to introduce new features.
Apple has defended its approach, arguing that proposed remedies could undermine security and user experience, while Google highlighted Android’s openness in fostering competition and innovation.
The investigation forms part of a broader effort to assess competition in mobile ecosystems, with final decisions expected later this year.
The inquiry group’s chair, Margot Daly, stated that limited competition between mobile browsers is stifling innovation, reinforcing the need for regulatory action.
The CMA’s ongoing probe into the dominance of Apple and Google aims to ensure a fairer and more competitive digital marketplace.
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The UK government, through the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), has commissioned research to evaluate best practices for managing risks associated with open-source software (OSS). The study assesses existing guidance on OSS security and resilience, examines its effectiveness across sectors, and provides recommendations for strengthening software supply chain security. That research is part of the government’s wider work to improve the UK’s cyber defences and protect and grow the economy.
The report outlines key recommendations for organisations using OSS, including:
Establishing an internal OSS policy to manage the adoption of OSS components.
Creating a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) to track OSS components and their dependencies.
Continuously monitoring the software supply chain with software composition analysis (SCA) tools to identify vulnerabilities and licensing issues.
Actively engaging with the OSS community to attract talent, foster innovation, enhance reputation, and ensure a sustainable ecosystem.
Using automation tools to streamline OSS management processes, particularly for smaller organisations, as a cost-effective alternative to manual practices.
The report also highlights the need for further research and policy development in areas such as scale-appropriate best practice guidance, industry-specific OSS management frameworks, standardised metrics for evaluating OSS component maturity, and the impact of community engagement on OSS quality and security.
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IBM secured a legal victory in the UK on March 10, 2025, after the High Court ruled in its favour against LzLabs. The lawsuit, which IBM filed against the Swiss-based company and its owner, John Moores, centred on accusations of stealing trade secrets. IBM claimed LzLabs’ UK subsidiary, Winsopia, misused its mainframe computer licence to reverse-engineer IBM’s proprietary software.
The court sided with IBM, agreeing that Winsopia had violated the terms of its licence agreement. Judge Finola O’Farrell concluded that LzLabs and Moores had unlawfully facilitated these breaches. Although LzLabs defended its actions, arguing that its software was developed independently over many years, the court ruled that the company had acted inappropriately.
This ruling is seen as a major win for IBM, reinforcing the value of its technological investments. The case, which will proceed to a hearing to determine potential damages, reflects the company’s commitment to protecting its intellectual property. LzLabs and Moores did not immediately comment on the decision.
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Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced its focus will be on interventions that directly affect UK consumers and businesses. The regulator will release a ‘roadmap’ to guide Big Tech companies, clarifying which issues it plans to prioritise and which it may deprioritise. The roadmap will also outline potential future interventions if companies are designated as having strategic market status, including tech giants like Google and Apple.
CEO Sarah Cardell emphasised that the CMA would act with a ‘more nuanced approach’ to promote competition while fostering business growth. With new powers to investigate firms with significant turnover in the UK, the CMA will continue its work to ensure fairness and transparency in the digital markets. The first roadmaps for investigations into search engines and mobile platforms are set to be released in June and July 2025.
The CMA’s strategy aligns with a pro-business direction, as the UK government aims to boost investor confidence while maintaining competitive markets. This initiative follows the appointment of Doug Gurr, former head of Amazon UK, as interim chair, signaling the government’s commitment to balancing regulation with economic growth.
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