Business

Amazon is carrying out tuberculosis (TB) testing at its Coventry fulfilment centre after a small number of workers were found to have the infectious lung disease.

The company confirmed that screening is taking place as a precaution, following the identification of several cases at the site, which employs around 2,000 people, according to the GMB union.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) began a targeted screening programme at the warehouse in September after a handful of workers were diagnosed with active, contagious TB last year. Amazon said that a further 10 employees subsequently tested positive for latent TB towards the end of 2025.

Latent TB means the bacteria are present in the body but the individual does not have symptoms and cannot pass the disease on. However, without treatment, latent TB can later develop into an active and infectious form.

Dr Roger Gajraj, a consultant in health protection at UK Health Security Agency, said the individuals identified with active TB were responding well to treatment and were no longer infectious.

“As a precaution, and in line with national guidance, we are offering testing to those who may have had closer contact with the affected individuals,” he said. “The overall risk remains low. TB is fully treatable with antibiotics, and we continue to work closely with Amazon to monitor the situation.”

Amazon said it had acted immediately after the initial cases were discovered. A spokesperson said: “We followed guidance from the NHS and UKHSA and made all potentially affected employees aware of the situation. Out of an abundance of caution, we are now running an expanded screening programme with the NHS. Nothing is more important than the safety and wellbeing of our team members.”

However, the GMB union has called for stronger measures. Amanda Gearing, a senior organiser for the union at the Coventry site, urged “immediate and decisive action”, including the temporary closure of the warehouse until infection control measures are fully in place.

The union said NHS staff attended the site this week to carry out blood tests on workers and that multiple cases had been reported. One employee told union representatives there were concerns that some migrant workers could be more vulnerable if they had not received TB vaccinations in their countries of origin.

Coventry City Council said it was encouraging residents to remain alert to symptoms amid a broader national rise in TB cases. A council spokesperson said: “TB testing and treatment is free to everyone on the NHS, regardless of immigration status. Anyone experiencing symptoms should contact their GP or NHS 111 without delay.”

Common symptoms of tuberculosis include a persistent cough lasting more than three weeks, fatigue, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. The disease spreads through prolonged close contact with someone who has active TB.

According to government data published in October, TB notifications rose by 13.6 per cent in 2024 to 5,490 cases, bringing the UK close to the World Health Organization’s threshold for a low-incidence country.

The Coventry warehouse has previously been the focus of industrial unrest, with Amazon narrowly defeating a union recognition vote at the site in 2024.

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Amazon tests Coventry warehouse staff for tuberculosis after outbreak

President Donald Trump has reignited global trade tensions after announcing a fresh wave of tariffs on European exports, a move that businesses warn could disrupt supply chains, dent confidence and push up inflation in the United States.

Under the new plan, a blanket 10 per cent tariff will be imposed on “all or any goods” exported to the US from the UK, Denmark and other European countries from February 1. Trump has also threatened to raise those duties to 25 per cent from June 1 unless negotiations succeed over the US purchasing Greenland, a demand that has already been firmly rejected by Copenhagen and its allies.

Market analysts say the policy represents a sharp escalation in Trump’s confrontational trade strategy and comes at a delicate moment for the UK economy, which has only just returned to modest growth.

Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said the move had injected renewed uncertainty into global markets. She described the announcement as “migraine-inducing” for both politicians and companies that have already endured months of tariff brinkmanship.

“Just when there appeared to be a lull in the tariff storm, President Trump has whipped up fresh economic chaos,” Streeter said. “This is his modus operandi — unleash uncertainty and threats of more onerous measures to coerce nations to acquiesce to his demands.”

While there may be some relief that talk of military action has been dialled back, Streeter warned that the tariffs themselves look likely to persist. Given how entrenched positions are on Greenland’s future, she said the 10 per cent levy could remain in place for some time, with the risk of a jump to 25 per cent in June “highly possible”.

For exporters selling into the US, the implications are significant. Many firms have already struggled to absorb the cost of existing tariffs, leaving little room to cushion further increases. As a result, higher duties are likely to be passed on to American customers through higher prices.

“That risks lower demand and weaker sales for exporters,” Streeter said. “Some US importers may rush to bring forward orders ahead of June, creating a short-term bump, but longer term they are likely to look for cheaper suppliers elsewhere.”

The knock-on effects are already worrying UK businesses, where confidence has fallen sharply in recent months. Although recent data suggested the economy had begun to stabilise, analysts fear that renewed trade disruption could quickly undermine that progress.

The latest move is also expected to intensify inflationary pressures in the US. Higher prices are likely across a wide range of goods, from cars and chemicals to food products such as olive oil, as well as aircraft and medical equipment. This comes at a time when many US households are already feeling the strain of rising living costs.

Streeter warned that the tariffs could further inflame tensions between the White House and the Federal Reserve, as policymakers weigh the inflationary impact of trade barriers against pressure from Trump to cut interest rates more aggressively.

“Policymakers are likely to be even more cautious,” she said. “Tariffs ramping up again make it harder to justify faster rate cuts.”

For the UK, the episode is expected to strengthen calls for trade diversification. Many firms are already exploring new markets to reduce reliance on the US, mirroring a strategy adopted by China, which has boosted exports by forging alternative trading relationships. The latest tariff threat is also likely to reignite debate over closer trade ties with the EU as a way to offset damage from US policy swings.

Read more:
Trump’s new tariff threat risks chaos for companies and higher inflation in the US

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned Donald Trump’s threat to impose sweeping tariffs on the UK and other European allies over Greenland, calling the move “completely wrong” and warning it undermines Nato unity.

The intervention follows a statement by Donald Trump, who said the United States would introduce a 10 per cent tariff on goods from the UK and seven European countries from 1 February. The levies would rise to 25 per cent on 1 June unless a deal was reached to allow the US to purchase Greenland.

Trump said the tariffs would apply to Nato members, including the UK, France and Germany, that have deployed troops to the Arctic territory amid rising geopolitical tensions. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he accused European countries of travelling to Greenland “for purposes unknown” and described the situation as “very dangerous” for global security.

Responding on Saturday evening, Keir Starmer said the UK’s position was unequivocal.

“Our position on Greenland is very clear, it is part of the Kingdom of Denmark and its future is a matter for the Greenlanders and the Danes,” he said. “Arctic security matters for the whole of Nato, and allies should be working together to address the growing threat from Russia.”

Starmer added: “Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of Nato allies is completely wrong. We will of course be pursuing this directly with the US administration.”

Opposition leaders across Westminster echoed the criticism, warning the move would damage British businesses and further strain transatlantic relations.

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservatives, said the threat was misguided. “President Trump is completely wrong to announce tariffs on the UK over Greenland,” she said. “These tariffs will be yet another burden for businesses across our country. The sovereignty of Greenland should only be decided by the people of Greenland.”

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the episode exposed the fragility of the UK’s relationship with Washington. “Trump is now punishing the UK and Nato allies just for doing the right thing,” he said, urging Starmer to work more closely with European and Commonwealth partners to push back.

Even Nigel Farage, a long-time admirer of Trump, acknowledged the potential damage. “We don’t always agree with the US government and in this case we certainly don’t,” he said, adding that the tariffs would “hurt” the UK.

Senior Labour figures also used the moment to argue for a reset in Britain’s strategic posture. Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, said Trump’s threats underlined the need for closer cooperation with Europe. “If we can’t rely on America and we don’t want to cosy up to China, the answer is to get serious about our strategic future with Europe,” she said.

Former national security adviser Peter Ricketts urged calm diplomacy, telling BBC Radio 4 that European governments should resist escalation and continue to make the case for collective Nato security. He noted that during the Cold War the US maintained a large military presence in Greenland without resorting to economic threats.

“The right way forward is cooperation, not tariffs and bluster,” Ricketts said, adding that any EU response would need to be coordinated at bloc level, limiting Trump’s ability to target individual member states.

The tariff threat comes at a sensitive moment for UK businesses, already grappling with weak growth, high borrowing costs and fragile export demand. Any new trade barriers with the US risk compounding those pressures, particularly for manufacturers and exporters reliant on transatlantic markets.

Read more:
Starmer condemns Trump’s Greenland tariff threat as ‘completely wrong’

Adverts will soon begin appearing inside OpenAI’s flagship chatbot ChatGPT, as the company looks for new ways to monetise one of the world’s most widely used AI tools.

OpenAI has confirmed it will trial advertising in ChatGPT in the United States, with adverts shown to some users on the free version of the service as well as a new lower-cost subscription tier, ChatGPT Go.

ChatGPT Go will be priced at $8 a month in the US, with equivalent pricing rolled out globally. The tier sits below existing paid plans, which include ChatGPT Plus at $20 a month and ChatGPT Pro at $200.

During the trial, adverts will appear at the top of the interface after a user submits a prompt. For example, someone asking ChatGPT for travel recommendations in Mexico may see holiday-related adverts displayed as banner-style placements. OpenAI stressed that the adverts will not influence ChatGPT’s answers and that conversation data will not be shared with advertisers.

The company said it was exploring advertising “so more people can benefit from our tools with fewer usage limits”, signalling that ads could help subsidise wider access to the platform.

The move comes amid growing scrutiny of the economics of the AI sector. Despite explosive user growth, many leading AI companies are still operating at significant losses. The Financial Times reported that OpenAI lost around $8bn (£6bn) in the first half of 2025 alone, with only about 5 per cent of ChatGPT’s estimated 800 million users paying for a subscription.

Henry Ajder, an expert in AI, deepfakes and synthetic media, said the decision was unsurprising given the company’s financial position.

OpenAI has confirmed it will trial advertising in ChatGPT in the United States, with adverts shown to some users on the free version of the service as well as a new lower-cost subscription tier, ChatGPT Go.

“OpenAI has seen enormous growth in users, but it continues to burn investor cash and is not yet a profit-making entity,” he said. “To turn that around, it needs revenue sources beyond subscriptions. For many software businesses, advertising is a proven and reliable model.”

OpenAI was originally founded as a non-profit research organisation but has steadily evolved into a more commercial operation as the costs of building and running large AI models have surged. Advertising has underpinned much of the internet economy for more than two decades, funding everything from search engines to social media platforms.

Despite this, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has previously been sceptical about ads, once describing them as “a last resort”. Nevertheless, OpenAI is not alone in reconsidering the approach. Rival AI firm Perplexity created a senior advertising role last year, while Google has denied reports that it plans to introduce ads into its Gemini AI assistant in 2026.

Analysts say OpenAI’s experiment will be closely watched across the tech sector. If successful, it could mark a turning point in how consumer AI products are funded — and potentially signal that the era of ad-free chatbots is coming to an end.

Read more:
ChatGPT to carry adverts for some users as OpenAI searches for new revenue

DL Mining Against the backdrop of an increasingly complex global economic situation, the cryptocurrency market has recently seen a long-awaited rebound, with Bitcoin prices rebounding sharply and becoming the focus of market attention.

One of the key factors driving this rebound is the significant progress in the negotiations between China and the United States on tariff policies. Driven by the market boom, digital currency investment and mining activities are gradually heating up. Especially for investors who are unwilling to invest in high equipment costs, the cloud mining service provided by DL Mining has become a new option, allowing more people to easily participate in the mining of mainstream digital assets such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin.

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In the volatile environment of the cryptocurrency market, DL Mining opening the era of zero-threshold BTC、DOGE、ETH&XRP mining on smartphones,Earn $1K/day easily

Let’s face it: “Regulatory Update” is a phrase that usually sends marketers sprinting for the nearest espresso machine. We like the creative stuff. The “big ideas.” The high-octane campaigns that turn prospects into advocates.

But here is the hard truth for every Channel Partner Marketing Manager (CPMM): In 2026, compliance is no longer a “legal thing”—it is a brand thing. If your partner in Munich mishandles customer data, or your reseller in Paris uses a “black box” AI tool to generate deceptive ads, it isn’t just their reputation on the line. It’s yours. With the EU AI Act now in full swing and GDPR entering its “mature enforcement” era, the distance between a partner’s mistake and your company’s $20 million fine has never been shorter.

Managing a channel is like playing a global game of “Telephone.” You whisper a brand message and a set of rules at one end, and by the time it reaches the end customer via a third-party reseller, it has been translated, truncated, and—all too often—stripped of its legal guardrails.

Here is how to stop the “compliance leak” and ensure your partners are as safe as they are successful.

The Regulatory Landscape: What’s Actually New?

Before you can enforce the rules, you need to know them. We’re moving past the “wild west” of data collection into a highly structured era of Risk-Based Regulation.

GDPR: The “Permanent” Baseline

While GDPR felt like a fire drill in 2018, today it is the floor, not the ceiling. The focus in 2026 has shifted from “Do you have a privacy policy?” to “Can you prove the lineage of your data?” For CPMMs, this means ensuring partners aren’t just “buying lists” and claiming they have “legitimate interest.” If your partners are uploading leads into your CRM, you need an automated audit trail of how that consent was captured.

The EU AI Act: The New Frontier

The EU AI Act is the world’s first comprehensive law on Artificial Intelligence. It categorizes AI tools into risk levels:

Prohibited Risk: Systems that manipulate human behavior (e.g., “dark patterns” in UI).
High Risk: AI used in recruitment, credit scoring, or critical infrastructure.
Limited/Minimal Risk: Chatbots and AI-generated content (this is where most marketing sits).

The kicker for marketers? Transparency. If your partner is using AI to generate “customer testimonials” or “realistic influencers,” they must disclose it.5 Failure to do so isn’t just “unethical”—it’s now illegal in the EU and several other jurisdictions following suit.

Regulation
Primary Focus
Marketer’s “TL;DR”

GDPR
Data Privacy & Consent
“No consent, no contact.”

EU AI Act
Safety & Transparency
“Disclose the AI, avoid the manipulation.”

PECR (UK)
Electronic Comms
“The rules for cold emailing and cookies.”

The “Partner Compliance Gap”: Why Good Partners Do Bad Things

Most partners don’t want to break the law. They break the law because of Friction. If your compliance process takes three weeks but your “End of Quarter” sales push ends in three days, the partner will choose the path of least resistance. This usually involves “Franken-marketing”—stitching together old assets, unverified data, and unauthorized AI tools to get the job done.

As a CPMM, your job is to remove the friction of being legal. Some channel partner marketing courses have started to address this issue and include it in their certifications.

The 4-Step Framework for Partner Compliance

To keep your channel partners compliant, you need to stop thinking like a cop and start thinking like an enabler.

Step 1: Standardize the “Compliance-Ready” Toolkit

Don’t ask your partners to write their own privacy disclosures or AI disclaimers. They’ll get it wrong. Instead, provide a Modular Marketing Asset Library.

Pre-approved Copy Blocks: Give them “Copy/Paste” legalese for landing pages and emails.
The “Safe AI” Seal: Provide a list of vetted AI tools your company has cleared for use.
Dynamic Templates: Use a Partner Marketing Automation (PMA) tool that hard-codes the required disclosures into every co-branded asset.

Step 2: Implement “Smart” MDF Controls

Market Development Funds (MDF) are your biggest lever. If you want partners to stay compliant, make it a condition of reimbursement.

Update your MDF claim process to require:

Proof of Consent: For any lead-gen campaign, the partner must submit a screenshot of the opt-in mechanism used.
AI Disclosure Check: If AI was used in creative production, did they include the required watermark or disclosure?

Step 3: The “Capability Chasm” Training

Professionals research shows a massive “capability chasm” between those who understand AI and those who just use it.

Instead of a 50-page “Code of Conduct” PDF that no one reads, launch a Certification Program. Make it short, punchy, and video-based. “How to use AI in Marketing without getting us both sued” is a much more effective title than “Regulatory Compliance Training Module 4.”

Step 4: Automate the Audit (The “Trust but Verify” Phase)

In 2026, manual audits are dead. Use AI-powered monitoring tools to scan partner websites and social media feeds for your brand mentions. These tools can flag:

Outdated logos.
Missing privacy links.
Hyperbolic claims that violate consumer protection laws.

The Golden Rule: Joint Accountability

The shift in 2026 is moving toward Joint Controllership. In the eyes of the regulators, if you provide the funds, the brand, and the leads, you are responsible for how the partner handles them.

“A partner’s non-compliance is a failure of the vendor’s enablement.”

If a partner isn’t compliant, don’t just send a stern email. Ask: Did we make it too hard for them to do it right?

Moving Forward: Compliance as a Competitive Advantage

Here is the “Professionals twist”: Compliance isn’t just about avoiding fines. It’s a selling point. In a world drowning in “slop”—low-quality, AI-generated, data-scraping marketing—partners who can prove they respect privacy and use AI ethically will win more trust. And in B2B marketing, trust is the only currency that actually matters.

Your partners are the face of your brand in the field. By giving them the tools, the training, and the technology to stay compliant, you aren’t just “covering your assets”—you’re building a professional, high-integrity channel that customers actually want to buy from.

Read more:
Compliance Is the New Creative: Why Your Channel Partners Are Your Biggest Liability (and How to Fix It)

Online communities and digital services now play a key role in the global gaming industry.

While games still require specific hardware to run smoothly, technological innovations promise a future where that may no longer be necessary.

They make it possible to play high-quality games without owning expensive devices, and developers are increasingly optimising gaming apps to run smoothly on smartphones.

Technology is redefining the foundation of gaming through advancements in cloud infrastructure, widespread use of smartphones and artificial intelligence (AI).

Gaming is no longer just about the technology. It has evolved into a global ecosystem that prioritises accessibility, personalisation and camaraderie between players.

With mobile apps now play a huge role in the everyday life of the average person, we assess some of the exciting technology developments to watch this year and beyond.

New Foundations for Game Creation

AI was initially used as a support tool during gaming app development, but it has now become a creative partner for developers worldwide.

Developers now rely on AI to speed up production and unlock ideas that would have taken years to build manually. Instead of designing every character, line of dialogue, level, environment and challenge themselves, developers and studios use AI to handle these tasks.

It is easy to spot the notable changes when you pay attention to how non-playable characters behave. Characters from older games were notorious for repeating the same actions and lines regardless of the player’s actions or decisions.

However, things are smoother in newer games that include AI. Characters controlled by AI react more naturally to the player’s choices. They can remember what the player has done before, adjust their behaviour and even change how they talk based on how the game is being played.

Cross-platform development is also likely to become more popular in 2026. Games are no longer expected to work on just one device, with players leaning toward titles that let them switch between their phone, console and computer without any issues.

Epic’s first-party games, such as Fortnite, Fall Guys, LEGO Fortnite and Rocket League, support cross-platform technology.

Doubling Down on Immersion, Mobility and Mobile Gaming

While computers and consoles are still the ultimate gaming devices, mobile phones are gradually becoming the driving force of the industry.

Developers have started creating complex, high-quality mobile games that can compete with console and PC titles, thanks to new technologies.

Gamers tend to work with smartphones because they are cheaper and more accessible than consoles and PCs. But none of that would be possible without 5G technology.

The 5G tech allows games to run smoothly on smartphones, even in graphically demanding online multiplayer titles such as Call of Duty Mobile (CODM).

CODM is one of the most popular online multiplayer games in the world. With 5G tech, players can join live matches, play with others around the world and even stream high-quality content.

It has also helped mobile eSports grow into a serious business, with competitive mobile games such as PUBG Mobile and Honour of Kings attracting massive audiences and mouth-watering prize pools.

Monetisation has also changed with more people playing mobile games. In-app purchases are still common, but players expect transparency rather than feeling pressured or into paying just to win.

This is where the line between gaming and betting apps begins to overlap. Companies such as Betfair, one of the best betting apps on trusted comparison website bettingtop10.com/gb/, are showing that similar tech can be used across different digital experiences.

Features such as real-time updates and live competition also work well for prediction-based games linked to eSports, fantasy games and other competitive digital events.

The Future of Gaming Apps Could Rely on Connected Ecosystems

Many gaming apps are already connected to other digital tools people use, such as smartwatches, foldable phones, smart home devices and payment apps.

Gamers will likely see more of this in the future. When these systems work together, it changes how players interact with games and how developers think about long-term engagement.

Wearable devices will likely be a key part of this new ecosystem. Smartwatches can send game updates to your wrist, track your progress or even link your real-world activity to in-game rewards.

Developers talk a lot about play patterns on smartwatches, highlighting the fact that people won’t need to squint at their wrists during long gaming sessions.

Companies such as Bossa Studios have already established a foothold in the industry by creating games for smartwatches. The studio is responsible for popular mobile games such as Surgeon Simulator, Thomas Was Alone and Twelve a Dozen.

They have also developed a game called Spy_Watch, which can be played on the Apple Watch. The game puts players in charge of their own virtual espionage agency.

Read more:
Online Gaming: An Entertainment Ecosystem Teeming with Opportunities

Canada is actively reshaping its global trade and investment strategy in response to continued US trade tariffs, with investors and policymakers increasingly turning their attention towards Europe and China rather than waiting for a reversal in Washington.

According to leading audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg, uncertainty created by US trade policy is accelerating a strategic shift in Canadian capital flows and diplomatic priorities.

Melissa Thomas, a director at the firm, said Canadian leaders and investors are no longer prepared to sit tight in the hope of a US policy U-turn.

“Canada isn’t waiting around for the US to reverse its tariffs,” she said. “The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, and Canadian investors are clearly looking elsewhere for the country’s economic future — particularly towards Europe and China.”

Official data shows that Canadian investors acquired $15.2bn in foreign equity securities in November, with the bulk of that capital directed outside the US. Of that total, more than $8.9bn flowed into European equities, marking the highest monthly investment in non-US shares since April 2022.

Thomas said the figures highlight a deliberate rebalancing away from the US market.

“This isn’t just a portfolio adjustment — it reflects a broader reassessment of risk,” she explained. “Ongoing tariff uncertainty has made US exposure less predictable, while Europe is being seen as a more stable destination for long-term capital.”

The Canadian government is also moving in parallel. Thomas pointed to recent diplomatic engagement between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese president Xi Jinping, which resulted in agreements to lower levies on selected goods.

One of the most significant changes involves electric vehicles. Tariffs on Chinese EVs entering Canada are set to fall dramatically, shifting to a “most favoured nation” (MFN) rate — the standard tariff applied between World Trade Organisation members. Under the revised arrangement, Chinese EVs will face a 6.1% tariff, subject to a quota of 49,000 vehicles, compared with the current tariff rate of 100%.

“That is a substantial reduction,” Thomas said. “It signals a pragmatic approach from Canada — prioritising supply, affordability and trade diversification over alignment with US protectionist policy.”

She added that policymakers in the UK are likely to be watching developments closely, although Britain’s long-standing relationship with the US limits how far it can follow Canada’s lead.

“The UK government will be observing this with interest, but maintaining the so-called ‘special relationship’ with the US means it is unlikely Britain would pursue MFN-style arrangements with Canada that go beyond those already in place with Washington,” Thomas said.

The growing presence of Chinese electric vehicles in Western markets is already a contentious issue in Europe and the UK, where manufacturers have warned of undercutting by low-cost imports. Some industry figures have called for minimum pricing mechanisms to protect domestic producers.

“Only time will tell whether Mark Carney faces similar political and industrial pressure in Canada,” Thomas said. “But what’s clear is that US tariffs are accelerating a global realignment — and Canada is moving decisively to avoid being caught in the middle.”

Read more:
US tariffs push Canada towards Europe and China as investors look beyond Washington

Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink has begun undercutting traditional broadband providers in the UK after rolling out aggressive price cuts, intensifying competition in Britain’s fixed-line market.

Starlink is now offering high-speed broadband for as little as £35 a month in selected parts of the UK, down from a previous entry-level price of £55. The move places the satellite service below comparable packages from BT, which charges around £40 a month, and Virgin Media O2, whose equivalent service is priced at £36.

Even when Starlink’s £94 installation fee is factored in, analysts note that the service remains cheaper than BT over a typical 24-month contract. The package offers download speeds of around 100Mbps, placing it firmly in the “ultrafast” category suitable for streaming, gaming and video calls across multiple devices.

The price cuts mark a significant escalation in Starlink’s push into the UK broadband market and are expected to accelerate customer churn away from established providers.

James Ratzer, an analyst at New Street Research, said the move was a clear warning shot for the sector. “Starlink is becoming an incremental player in the UK broadband market, and this will put further pressure on BT through Openreach line losses, and to a lesser extent on Virgin Media O2,” he said.

Openreach, which is wholly owned by BT, maintains the physical broadband network used by most UK internet service providers. Any sustained loss of customers to satellite or wireless alternatives could weaken its long-term economics.

The timing of Starlink’s price cuts is awkward for BT, which is already facing scrutiny over its digital landline switchover after reports that some elderly and vulnerable customers were left without connectivity over the Christmas period. If such problems are found to be widespread, the company could face regulatory attention from Ofcom.

Starlink, part of SpaceX, operates a constellation of roughly 9,500 low-earth orbit satellites, enabling it to deliver broadband to remote and rural areas that are poorly served by fixed-line networks. The service is also being explored as a solution for patchy connectivity on railways and other transport routes.

As of mid-2025, Starlink had around 110,000 UK customers. Analysts believe that figure could rise to as many as 350,000 in the coming years, more than 1 per cent of the total broadband market, as prices fall and coverage expands.

Until recently, Starlink’s premium pricing limited its appeal to rural households and niche users. The new £35 tariff, introduced just two months after the company cut its standard monthly price from £75 to £55, suggests a deliberate shift towards mass-market competition.

The competitive pressure is also being fuelled by the expected arrival of a rival satellite service from Jeff Bezos, with Amazon preparing to launch its Project Kuiper (sometimes dubbed Amazon Leo) later this year.

Satellite broadband and fixed wireless access are increasingly being seen as viable alternatives to traditional fibre and copper networks. New Street Research has previously estimated that subscriptions to conventional broadband services could fall by 250,000 in a single year, the first decline on record.

In response, established telecoms groups are hedging their bets. BT has partnered with Starlink to serve remote rural areas, while O2 has struck a broader deal with Musk’s company that includes plans for a direct-to-mobile satellite service. Vodafone, meanwhile, has teamed up with AST SpaceMobile and recently received regulatory approval to begin testing satellite-based mobile connectivity in the UK.

As price competition intensifies, Starlink’s latest move signals that Britain’s broadband market is entering a new phase, one in which space-based networks are no longer a niche solution, but a direct challenger to the country’s flagship telecoms brands.

Read more:
Musk’s Starlink undercuts BT with UK broadband price cuts

Octopus Energy has been named Britain’s Most Admired Company 2025, becoming the youngest business ever to win the prestigious accolade.

The UK’s largest energy supplier took the top prize at a ceremony held at the London Stock Exchange, beating long-established corporate heavyweights that in some cases have been operating for more than a century.

In addition to the overall title, Octopus collected six gold sector awards and two silver sector awards, underlining the scale of its reputation across British business.

Founder and chief executive Greg Jackson said the recognition carried particular weight because it was awarded by peers and competitors across the business community.

“Business leaders use the word ‘humbled’ all the time, but this really is the case today,” Jackson said.
“To be Britain’s Most Admired Company, voted for by other businesses including our competitors, feels like a real achievement.

“It’s the result of incredible focus and dedication from 12,000 people working together, outstanding long-term investors, and the British public not just demanding something better — but choosing it.”

Britain’s Most Admired Companies is now in its 35th year, making it the UK’s longest-running annual survey of corporate reputation. The rankings are run by Echo Research in partnership with the London Stock Exchange and assess more than 250 of Britain’s largest companies across 28 industry sectors.

Companies are judged against 13 reputational criteria, with more than 350 interviews conducted with board-level executives, analysts and City commentators between July and October 2025, meaning rival businesses have a direct say in the results.

Octopus Energy was the only private company to feature in the top ten overall rankings. It secured the top spot ahead of Airbus in second place, Marks & Spencer in third, and Rolls-Royce in fourth. Rolls-Royce chief executive Tufan Erginbilgiç was named Britain’s Most Admired Leader.

Octopus won the gold sector award for Energy Distribution and Supply for the third consecutive year. It also claimed gold awards for Clarity in Strategy, Effective Use of Corporate Assets, Positive Contribution to Society and Reducing Environmental Impact. The company shared gold in Quality of Management and picked up silver awards for Ability to Attract, Develop and Retain Talent and Capacity to Innovate.

Dame Julia Hoggett, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange, said Octopus’s success reflected more than just strong financial performance.

“Octopus Energy is recognised not only for strategic clarity and operational excellence, but for visible leadership in the energy transition, where national resilience, affordability and ambition converge,” she said. “It is a powerful illustration of purpose translated into performance, and performance into trust.”

Sandra Macleod, group chief executive of Echo Research, added: “Octopus Energy’s recognition reflects a blend of strategic clarity, decisive leadership and visible societal and environmental contribution. They are being rated not only as the most admired company in their sector, but as the most admired in Britain, a rare signal of trust from peers, analysts and City commentators.”

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Octopus Energy crowned Britain’s Most Admired Company