BT’s outgoing CEO Phillip Jansen has been considered to become the next chairman of marketing firm WPP.

According to Sky News, Jansen, who is to step down from the telecoms company in spring, is one of several prospective candidates to have been approached for the post.

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However, WPP’s search is not yet at an advanced stage, with no certainty Jansen or WPP would progress his application further.

Jansen joined BT in 2013, after holding the position of CEO at Worldpay. Before that he was CEO and then chairman at Brakes Group between 2010 and 2015.

He started his career at FMCG giant Procter & Gamble (P&G) and has also held senior positions at MyTravel, Sodexo and Telewest Communications (now Virgin Media).

The news comes as WPP CEO Mark Read was recently awarded a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours list, for his services to the creative industries.

Read was promoted from Chief Operating Officer to the CEO role at WPP in 2018 succeeding Sir Martin Sorrell. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at Wunderman and WPP Digital.

“I am delighted and proud to have received this honour,” Read said.

“The creative industries and the many thousands of amazing people who work within them – not least those at WPP – are such an important part of British life, with a huge impact on both our culture and economy. It’s wonderful to see that contribution recognised.”

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Telecoms giants, Sky, BT, TalkTalk and Virgin Media O2, have agreed to set new measures aimed at safeguarding the most vulnerable individuals.

During the ongoing upgrade of phone lines to a new digital network, the pledge addresses concerns over serious incidents impacting telecare users, specifically the elderly and disabled who depend on remote support systems.

According to the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the move is a “positive step” by the industry to make sure safety continues to be at the heart of the nationwide switchover.

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Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “It is absolutely right that the most vulnerable people in our society should feel safe, secure and have complete confidence in the services provided to them.

“That’s why I have brought our biggest network providers and industry regulator to the table, agreeing a cast iron set of principles to reassure people and put their minds at ease.

“The recent issues families have had to endure are unacceptable and today’s agreements will help to protect consumers in future.”

Other agreed measures include a commitment by providers not to force customers onto the new network until robust protections are in place.

The government will also continue to work with the telecare sector to reduce risk for users during the digital transition, it said.

Telecoms Minister, Sir John Whittingdale, continued: “These commitments are a promise to the most vulnerable people in our society – we will leave no stone unturned in making your safety and security the number one priority for our telephone providers.

“When people need help, they should have every confidence that the services provided to them will get them the assistance they need, and I am clear that recent failings must never happen again.”

He concluded: “It is important we have a telecoms networks fit for the modern age and it’s right the technology is updated to keep pace with the demand we place on it, but in modernising the network providers must also work closely with customers to understand their needs, particularly the most vulnerable customers.”

The news comes as Community Fibre recently called out BT and Virgin Media for “stifling” and “confusing” customers, making it harder for them to leave and join other service providers.

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Community Fibre has called out BT and Virgin Media for “stifling” and “confusing” customers, making it harder for them to leave and join other service providers.

The move comes as, earlier this month, Ofcom announced it was going to stop internet providers from “misleading customers” about the technology being used to deliver their internet.

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According to Community Fibre CEO, Graeme Oxby, Ofcom should be “outraged on behalf of the public that BT, Virgin and others continue to stifle and slow down competition and confuse customers.”

He said: “If broadband providers use any copper to deliver the service, they shouldn’t tell consumers that it is fibre as that is ‘fibre fibbing’.

“Those companies who don’t provide 100% full fibre have been misleading customers for years and should implement ‘technology truthfulness’ in all their communications without any further delay.”

Rather than waiting for Ofcom to fine the offenders, Oxby has challenged The One Touch Switching Company (TOTSCo), the organisation sanctioned and supported by Ofcom and funded by BT, Virgin and Vodafone, alongside the big players to pull their socks up and deliver the one-touch switching service for 14 March 2024.

He added: “Consumers want it, competition requires it and the Regulator has mandated it, so let’s get on with it.”

Mobile Marketing Magazine has contacted BT and Virgin Media for comment.

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Telecoms giant EE has launched its new service, EE TV, aimed to offer a flexible TV experience for UK homes.

A first-of-a-kind offering, which includes flexible content packages. replaces BT TV after its £12.5 billion acquisition by the telecoms company.

EE has also partnered with Apple to produce an EE TV app with live streaming and on-demand content, alongside a custom EE-branded remote, and automatic setup for the Apple TV box.

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The new offering allows customers access to over 70 Freeview channels, a Netflix subscription, as well as premium channels from Sky, Eurosport, TNT Sports and Discovery.

However, the service also offers Prime Video and Now, for an additional fee, with Disney Plus set to be available soon.

“The launch of EE TV is one of the first significant strides we’re taking since launching New EE,” CEO Marc Allera said. “The service is built for busy households, and we believe it will elevate the TV experience for consumers across the UK.”

The news comes as Allera recently revealed revealed customers are “not sentimental” about losing the BT brand.

He continued: “We’re effectively rebranding a national institution.

“Most are aware of the changes and they understand it” claiming the telecoms business has not “seen much resistance”.

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EE boss Marc Allera has revealed customers are “not sentimental” about losing the BT brand following its £12.5 billion acquisition.

Speaking to The Mail on Sunday, Allegra said: “We’re effectively rebranding a national institution.

“Most are aware of the changes and they understand it” claiming the telecoms business has not “seen much resistance”.

As a result of the acquisition, EE will now be replacing the BT brand for landline and internet services after 30 years, with the BT logo no longer appearing on bills, phones, wifi home hubs and TV boxes.

Instead, the EE imprint will now be appearing on these devices.

However, these are not the only changes in Allera’s strategy, which he admits “took a bit longer” than he liked due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

His strategy includes recruiting new customers by launching EE ID, an online account anyone can set up despite not having a phone or internet contract with the company, which will allow customers to streamline multiple subscriptions to companies such as Netflix via a single paid account.

“I want EE to be one of the most important brands and when people see our app on their smartphone, they will want to come back every day and every week to buy products and services from us,” Allera added.

“Customers tell us they have so many apps and subscriptions they don’t know where to put them. They have devices in their homes that they can’t find or don’t know if they’re connected. We can play a really good role in helping them navigate all that.”

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With the addition of the second partnership, EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers will – by the end of the month – be able to access lessons in Oak National Academy’s virtual classroom or on BBC Bitesize without having to worry about their mobile data.

It’s all part of BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme, where the telecoms giant is working with the Department for Education to ensure that school children can learn online while schools are closed as part of the UK’s latest lockdown.

“We’re rapidly boosting our ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme by zero rating access to BBC Bitesize and now Oak National Academy for all our mobile customers,” said Marc Allera, CEO of BT Group’s consumer division. “Our inclusive support package means families that need it most can get help to keep learning, with unlimited data, free access to our 5m wi-fi hotspots and now free access to the two most popular educational resources.

“And to make sure that we are keeping children across the whole of the UK connected, we’re also asking Ministers in Wales, Scotland and NI to work with us on offering Unlimited data for eligible customers, as well as potential zero rating of other regionalised educational resources.”

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EE, BT Mobile, and Plusnet Mobile customers accessing content for kids on Bitesize will be able to watch, read, and interact with all the available content, even if they have run out of data. In addition, no registration will be required to access the content through the BBC website or Bitesize app.

“With the pandemic forcing schools to close again we should not allow a lack of digital access to further impact children’s education. This is why I’m delighted we have agreed this partnership with BT to remove data charges when accessing the BBC’s brilliant Bitesize content,” said Tim Davie, BBC Director General. “The BBC will continue to do all we can to ensure every child, whatever their circumstances, can continue to access vital educational materials during this time.”

The agreement, which will end when schools reopen across the UK, is part of BT’s ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme, which is working with the Department of Education to help children continue learning while we are locked down.

As part of the scheme, BT is giving out unlimited mobile data to the children who need it most and handing out thousands of free wi-fi vouchers to schools and charities for families without an internet connection. These vouchers provide access to BT’s wi-fi hotspots.

“We want to ensure that no child is left behind in their education as a result of this pandemic, and recognise that we all have a role we can play to help families and carers continue their children’s education while schools are closed,” said Marc Allera, CEO of BT Group’s consumer division.

“That’s why, as part of our ‘Lockdown Learning’ support scheme launched last week, we’re proud to partner with the BBC and be the first network to zero rate BBC Bitesize and allow all of our mobile customers to access its incredible content without using up any data.”

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The ‘Smarter Living Challenge’ will initially work with 60 households across the UK, investigating how digital technology can help make their lives easier, reduce emissions, and save them money. After the three-month period, BT and Hubbub will use their findings to launch a movement encouraging more households to make a positive change.

“BT has led the way on climate action for over 28 years and we’ve pledged to become a net zero carbon emissions business by 2045,” said Andy Wales, Chief Digital Impact and Sustainability Officer at BT Group. “We also have a responsibility to help households reduce their own carbon emissions and we’re hoping to inspire action on a big scale when we reveal the outcomes of this project to the wider public in spring 2021.”

The households taking part in the initial project will be introduced to smart home devices, apps, and tips about smart tech, including smart thermostats, radiator valves, lighting, and plugs, as well as apps to manage energy, food, and water use.

Research conducted by Censuswide found that 63 per cent of people don’t currently use any smart technology to run their homes but 23 per cent would use more technology if it reduced their impact on the environment. The problem found is that, though 61 per cent of the 3,000 surveyed are concerned about the environment, 43 per cent wrongly believe that leading a greener lifestyle would be more expensive.

“Our research shows that 41 per cent of people said they’d use technology more to manage their homes if it saved them money on their bills, suggesting a need to explore exactly which technology can have a positive impact on household bills and how much money can be saved,” said Gavin Ellis, Co-founder and Director of Hubbub. “By investigating what works for different types of households we hope to inspire the public to embrace technology in a way that works for them, helping to save money and cut carbon emissions in the home.”

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London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Belfast will be the first UK locations to benefit from EE’s 5G network and its 5G plans. Alongside the technology going live, six 5G smartphones and devices will be made available, including smartphones from Samsung, OnePlus, LG, and Oppo, as well as 5GEE home broadband and 5GEE Wi-fi with the HTC 5G Hub.

“This is the start of the UK’s 5G journey and great news for our customers that want and need the best connections,” said Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s consumer division. “We’ve started with 5G in some of the busiest parts of the UK, the widest range of 5G devices in the UK, and plans that give customers the best mobile connection and great benefits.”

The 5G network is built on top of EE’s 4G network – with customers connecting to both at the same time. EE expects its customers to see an increase in speeds of between 100 and 150Mbps, with some customers’ speeds exceeding one gigabit-per-second.

The company says it will also bring 5G to the ‘busiest parts’ of Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Sheffield in 2019. Then, in 2020, locations including Aberdeen, Cambridge, Derby, Gloucester, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Worcester, and Wolverhampton can all expect to benefit.

In order to achieve its goal of rolling out 5G to the busiest parts of all the above locations, EE will be upgrading more than 100 sites to 5G each month. It will also be expanding 4G coverage into rural areas, and add more capacity to 4G sites b turning 3G signal into 4G.

EE’s 5G rollout will happen in three phases – this being the first. The full next generation 5G core network can be expected in the second phase, which will get going from 2022. The third phase, from 2023, will look to introduce Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), Network Slicing, and multi-gigabit-per-second speeds to power applications such as real-time traffic management of fleets of autonomous vehicles.

“We’re adding 5G to the UK’s number one 4G network to increase reliability, increase speeds, and keep our customers connected where they need it most,” said Allera. “5G will create new experiences with augmented reality, make our customers’ lives easier, and help launch entirely new businesses that we haven’t even imagined. We’re upgrading more than 100 sites to 5G every month from today to connect more places to what 5G can enable. 

The BT-owned network has also announced a pair of 5G-powered partnerships with Google and Pokémon Go creator Niantic.

EE is bringing 5G to the Google for Startups Campus in London to help power the development of next generation apps and experiences. Meanwhile, EE is the exclusive UK telecom launch partner for Niantic’s upcoming augmented reality Harry Potter: Wizards Unite game. As a result, EE customers will gain exclusive in-game content, EE locations will appear in the game as sponsored Inns and Fortresses with higher reward payout, and there’ll be special quests announced at game’s launch.

“Our partnerships with Google and Niantic are just the start of our commitment to work with the most innovative and exciting companies in the world to ensure that EE customers are the first to benefit from the exciting new experiences that 5G will bring,” said Allera.

The first 5G smartphones available through EE will be the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Oppo Reno 5G, LG V50 ThinQ, and OnePlus 7 Pro 5g.

In fact, the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G is already available for pre-order, making it the UK’s first commercially available 5G smartphone.

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Ikea has been the big winner on social media during the final season of Game of Thrones so far, achieving the greatest social lift of the brands advertising during the show’s ad breaks on Sky Atlantic.

According to 4C Insights, the Swedish furniture store has achieved a 495 per cent TV social lift this season, thanks to its three TV spots. The data science firm based its findings on the brand’s social media engagement in the five-minute period after the start of a TV ad, compared to the engagement rate in the five minutes prior.

O2 sits in second place in the rankings, achieving a 335.5 per cent social lift on the back of its one ad. This is followed by BT’s 242 per cent from eight spots, BMW’s 185.6 per cent from two spots, and Iceland’s 158.6 per cent from 11 spots.

“In todays cross-channel media world, these figures represent a more holistic view of advertisings net effect than just counting views or viewers,” said Aaron Goldman, CMO at 4C Insights. “With multi-tasking and multi-screening, it’s not enough for brands to put out an advert on television and expect it to reach their key audiences. Marketers must close the loop by creating a presence across platforms with timely messaging that captures the moment.”

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