This is an age where 24/7 connectivity is vital for for businesses to thrive. Surprisingly, not all of the UK is completely with the times. On many an occasion, connections may be lagging or extremely slow in coffee shops, restaurants or even particular suburbs.
Fifty-nine new locations across the UK are set to receive BT Openreach’s ultrafast broadband service, almost doubling the number of localities where this technology will be available across the country. Only 46 locations were confirmed until the announcement this morning.
The UK government has announced, as part of its modern Industrial Strategy, that it will provide access to 5G for a majority of the population, deliver full fibre broadband to 15 million premises by 2025, and provide full fibre broadband coverage across the UK by 2033.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has said the government will turn off copper phone lines across the UK in an attempt to urge telecommunication companies to boost rural broadband speeds. He said that although a switch off date has not yet been decided, the government would intervene to pull through with the plans if a date is not set by industry leaders.
Portsmouth is set to become the next city in Britain to join the CityFibre Gigabit City list, providing businesses with access to Gigabit-capable fibre broadband via leased line networking.
In today’s online world, connectivity is more important than ever to operate businesses and keep communities current. The speed of connection can make a massive difference to any online activity and the user experience. Something like downloading a film in HD or conducting a Skype conversation with a business opportunity overseas requires a fast and reliable connection.
Whitchurch in Cardiff and Glasgow's suburbs have been selected as two of the 26 new locations across the UK to pilot the latest ultrafast broadband.
Two million British businesses and homes could benefit from a faster internet connection following announcements made by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement. Philip Hammond announced a £400 million investment in boosting broadband speeds as well as £740 million to help develop 5G mobile networks.
There are still improvements to be made but the government is making good progress in ensuring that business broadband meets companies’ needs, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says. Broadband is a business necessity, yet research from Ofcom shows only 56 per cent of small to medium-sized firms can get superfast broadband, compared to 75 per cent of residential homes.
New rules forcing broadband companies to be clearer about the costs of their contracts in their advertising come into force today. Suppliers will now have to show upfront and monthly costs without the line rental charge being separated. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said the new requirements mean businesses and individuals are less likely to be misled.
New rules designed to make it clearer to you how much a broadband plan will actually cost might not quite go far enough, an expert says.
Two villages in the county of Herefordshire have now been connected with a fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) connection ensuring speeds of up to 100Mb.
The Engineering Employers Federation (EEF), the UK's organisation for manufacturers, has stated in its recent report, that the UK government is focusing too much on offering high speeds and not taking into account the other important factors of broadband, such as reliability and cost.
The government's review of the business broadband and leased lines is set to close its call for evidence on 3 June 2016.
Monthly rental landline charges for householders could be scrapped if the landline isn't being used, according to proposals set out by the culture minister.
Businesses in rural areas of Scotland are getting access to superfast broadband speeds for the first time as the rollout of new technology gathers pace. Companies in communities such as Aberdeenshire, Angus, Ayrshire and Argyll and Bute, as well as the Highlands and Shetland, are to get access during the summer.
Broadband speeds in the UK are well behind the countries with the fastest internet speeds, according to a new report. New data from the Ookla Speedtest shows that the UK's speeds are just the 30th fastest in the world at 30.6Mbps. Singapore was revealed to have the fastest average internet speeds on the planet at 111.2Mbps, followed by Hong Kong (102Mbps) and South Korea (71.36Mbps).
Business broadband in the north of England has received a boost by the news the Government's Superconnected Cities scheme is to be extended by another 12 months.
Around a thousand companies in the Manchester area have taken advantage of a government scheme to help them upgrade their business broadband connections. Ed Vaizey, the Digital Economy and Culture Minister, explained that 1,000 firms in Manchester and Salford have already used the Broadband Connection Vouchers scheme.
London is set for new superfast technology, with the rest of the UK standing to benefit from improved infrastructure should the trial in the capital be successful.
The government has been urged to do more to boost business broadband across the UK, with one entrepreneur slamming the speeds available as "pitifully slow". John Keedwell of London-based Epics Academy stated that technology is moving so fast that the government must be more ambitious with its infrastructure targets.
The high cost of business broadband in rural parts of the UK has been described by one entrepreneur as "immoral". Oli Christie, managing director of mobile games studio Neon Play, says he has been forced to pay £8,000 a year for his broadband supply.
Slow broadband 'puts firms at competitive disadvantage'
Companies without access to fast and reliable broadband connections are at risk of being left behind in an increasingly digital-driven society, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).
Rural Britain suffers from slow broadband
Slow broadband speeds are hindering Britain’s rural areas, according to new research by financial services provider NFU Mutual.
UK blames 'EU delays' for broadband roll-out
Competition concerns in Europe are putting the brakes on the UK’s roll-out of superfast broadband, the Government has complained.
Businesses urged to improve telephone customer service
Businesses are being urged to get serious about customers who call in after recent research suggested that many are not willing to wait on hold.
Ofcom updates leased line competition proposals
Ofcom has updated some of the proposals in its Business Connectivity Market Review consultation, launched to review competitiveness in the leased lines services market.
Newcastle gets 4G coverage
Newcastle is the latest place to enjoy the new fourth generation mobile service, 4G, after it was launched in the city on 4 December.
The new superfast mobile technology has been installed through operator Everything Everywhere (EE), who selected Newcastle to benefit as part of its second-wave roll-out of its service. The first wave received the technology back in October 2011.
IT executives report increase in network bandwidth demand for data centres
IT executives claim that one of the biggest issues facing their data centres is the need for more network bandwidth.
Cambridge businesses increase pressure for fast internet connections
Businesses and residents of the Cambridge area have been signing a petition in their thousands to try to speed up broadband connections in the region.
UK high-speed broadband delayed
The government looks set to miss one of its key targets for delivering superfast broadband this year, leaving some remote areas struggling with their connectivity.
Reports from the Financial Times reveal that the timetable for local authorities seeking to use the government procurement process for rural broadband project has been set back by three months at least.
Leased line investment benefits seaside conference centre
A Brighton conference centre is being revamped in a bid to attract more business customers.
Norwich to get broadband boost
Council and business leaders have welcomed the news that Norwich is to get faster broadband.
BT will this year roll out high-speed fibre broadband to an additional 23,500 Norfolk homes and businesses. The move should make upload and download speeds for residents and firms significantly faster, BT says.
Hertfordshire Council launches campaign for superfast broadband
Hertfordshire County Council has urged residents to get behind a campaign to make superfast broadband available across the region.
UK falling behind on broadband speeds
The UK is lagging behind when it comes to super-fast broadband, new figures have suggested.
According to the European Commission’s new Digital Agenda Scoreboard, published earlier this week, just 1.1 per cent of UK fixed-line broadband connections are able to deliver 100Mbps or faster.
Ofcom proposes new measures for regulation of leased lines
Ofcom has launched a new consultation on the regulation of leased lines.
Mobile devices in use to exceed population by 2017
A new report from mobile device manufacturer, Ericsson, predicts that the number of mobile devices in circulation will exceed the population of the Earth within five years.
BT charging too much for fibre use claims Talk Talk boss
The £2.5 billion superfast broadband network will be left empty if more competition is not stimulated in the market, according Talk Talk.
Leased line to help remote workforce during Olympics
London businesses with leased line connectivity may be better prepared for dealing with the impact of the London Olympics come July, in light of warnings that some businesses could experience slower connections around that time.
Canary Islands rolls out broadband network in remote regions
The Canary Islands government has announced it is installing broadband internet connection to remote areas around the collection of seven islands.
Brighton centre offers free fast Wi-Fi to all delegates
All business delegates attending an event at the Brighton Centre will now have access to free high-speed Wi-Fi via a new leased line fibre internet connection.
Government warns about Olympic internet problems
Businesses that rely on fast internet speeds and mobile networks should think about taking measures to protect their networks, through the use of leased lines for example, before the Olympics this summer.
Leased line customers among those affected by Virgin outage
Virgin leased line, cable and ADSL broadband customers experienced problems connecting to the internet on the evening of 17 January due to a ‘routing hardware issue’.
Drinks distributor uses leased lines to reduce business risk
Robert Roberts and its subsidiary Findlaters have upgraded their IT system to include a virtualisation and recovery system in order to reduce the risk it is exposed to.
Megaupload found to be major bandwidth user
Recently shut down uploading site, Megaupload, has been found to have been a massive consumer of bandwidth compared with some similarly popular file sharing services.
German telecoms networks team up in leased line deal
Two major German telecoms firms are joining forces to share networks going forward.
Thousands of Welsh businesses to benefit from broadband expansions
Thousands of businesses and homes in Wales are set to benefit from BT's expansion of a super-fast broadband network.
10Mb leased line uptake to grow with fibre expansions?
Uptake of 10Mb leased lines could be set to grow as the UK's broadband networks are due to be improved in the coming years.
Super-fast broadband to offer 100Mbps potential
The development of super-fast urban broadband networks could deliver speeds of up to 100Mbps, it has been revealed.
Rural businesses to benefit from broadband access
Millions of pounds are being invested in broadband for communities that are currently stuck with slow internet speeds.
