Broadband internet access will be installed in 50 million, or 30%, of European homes by 2008, representing 57% of the online population at that time, according to a new report from Forrester Research. The research group has revised its forecasts after stronger than expected growth in 2002, also taking into account continued price cuts and… Continue reading Broadband To Hit 30% Penetration In Europe By 2008

Active Value, the UK fund management service and the largest shareholder in Cordiant Communications, has again increased its stake in the group, this time buying 113.4 million shares. The purchase raises Active Value’s stake in Cordiant to 27.1%, comfortably past the 25% mark at which it has the power to block the proposed takeover of… Continue reading Active Value And Unknown Investor Buy Cordiant Shares

Business-to-consumer (B2C) ecommerce revenues in Europe are set to surpass $240 billion by 2006, representing a rise of 300% over 2003’s projected $60.7 billion spend. This is according to new figures from eMarketer‘s Europe E-Commerce: B2B & B2C report, which shows that there will be an annual growth of approximately $60 billion between now and… Continue reading European B2C Ecommerce To Pass $240bn By 2006

More than half of UK mobile users believe that there is nothing of interest that their mobile phone could offer other than the standard voice and text applications, according to a survey by Mediaedge:cia. However, the survey of 500 adults found that whilst the majority are not interested in any of the advanced services of… Continue reading Over Half Of UK Mobile Users Uninterested In Advanced Services

Mobile phone usage in Europe is likely to hit an 80% penetration saturation point around 2008, after which growth is likely to stall, according to new forecasts from Forrester Research. The research group predicts that there will be 310.7 million European mobile subscribers by 2008, representing a 79% penetration of the total population, as shown.… Continue reading European Mobile Penetration Will Hit 80% Ceiling, Says Forrester

The Government has ended the deadlock over the relaxation of the media ownership regulations and has agreed to accept Lord Puttnam’s plurality test amendment to the Communications Bill. In an attempt to avert a last minute defeat in the House of Lords, which would effectively end three years of policy making, Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell,… Continue reading Government Ends Media Ownership Deadlock

The Government has agreed to allow ITV licence holders to take full control of ITN following a last minute amendment to the Communications Bill. Ministers have previously been unwilling to lift the current restrictions, which prevent individual shareholders owning more than 40% of the commercial news provider that produces News At Ten and Channel 4… Continue reading ITV Partners Cleared To Take Full Control Of ITN

Ofcom’s chief executive, Stephen Carter, has criticised Lord Puttnam’s recent amendment to the Communications Bill to give the new super-regulator a greater emphasis on protecting the interests of citizens. In his first public speech since his appointment earlier this year (see Carter Set For Chief Executive Role at Ofcom), Carter said the amendment, which was… Continue reading Carter Blasts Risky Amendments To Communications Bill

Radio airtime revenues at the Wireless Group (TWG) rose by 1.4% in the six months to June, despite the fact that last year enjoyed a boost to spend during the World Cup competition. Chief executive Kelvin MacKenzie unveiled the stronger figures at the company’s AGM this morning. He also announced that the group’s flagship national… Continue reading Wireless Group Sees H1 Revenues Rise 1.4%

One of the bidders for the Vivendi Universal Entertainment (VUE) portfolio of businesses is understood to have been eliminated from the auction process, according to a report in today’s Financial Times. The paper says that Universal Partners, the consortium led by US oil billionaire Marvin Davis, has been ruled out by Vivendi, as its offer… Continue reading Vivendi Selects VUE Bidders In Auction