Weekly Roundup · Week of 13–19 July 2026
The week in business IT & comms
The week's business IT and comms news, boiled down to what actually affects how you run your business. This week: US authorities order a rush patch on Fortinet security kit, the broadband regulator opens its books on five fibre providers, and a new cyber law reaches the IT providers many businesses depend on. If you only read one thing this week, make it this.
- 01Cyber Security
US authorities order a rush patch on Fortinet security kit
Two critical flaws in Fortinet's FortiSandbox let an attacker take it over with no password. CISA added them to its must-patch list on 16 July with a deadline of Sunday 19 July. Most small firms do not run one, but the lesson on patching internet-facing kit is universal.
Read the full story - 02Connectivity & Broadband
Ofcom is investigating five fibre providers over their finances
The regulator opened investigations on 16 July into whether five altnet fibre networks hold the funds they are legally required to set aside. A prompt to weigh a provider's stability, not just its price, before signing a connectivity contract.
Read the full story - 03Compliance & Data
New cyber law will regulate IT providers for the first time
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill reached the House of Lords on 14 July. It brings managed IT providers into cyber regulation to close a supply-chain gap. If you outsource your IT, it is worth asking how your provider protects itself.
Read the full story - 04Connectivity & Broadband
CityFibre puts around 200 jobs at risk as altnet growth slows
One of the largest alternative fibre networks told about 200 staff on 15 July their roles were at risk, citing slower consolidation and market conditions. Part of a wider tightening across the altnet sector worth keeping an eye on.
- 05The Switch-Off
The next legacy phone-line price rise is coming on 1 October
Openreach's old copper line rental rose again on 1 July and faces a final increase on 1 October, close to double the 2025 cost. With the PSTN switch-off set for January 2027, planning the move to digital is cheaper than paying to stand still.
What we’re watching
The Fortinet patching deadline lands on Sunday 19 July, so getting those fixes applied is the immediate job. Looking further out, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill now moves to detailed scrutiny in the Lords, Ofcom's altnet investigations will run for several months, and the final copper line-rental rise arrives on 1 October ahead of the January 2027 switch-off. If you want a straight answer on what any of this means for your setup, that is a phone call away.
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