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Is weak digital infrastructure damaging business growth?

Across the UK, thousands of businesses are ready to unlock their potential. We sit on the brink of a digital revolution but outdated infrastructure is holding us back more than many businesses realise.

Companies the length and breadth of the UK, in every sector, are in urgent need of digital connectivity that is truly fit for purpose.

We’ve all felt that familiar frustration when the broadband connection grinds to a halt; the head-in-your-hands exasperation when the download estimate for a large file is minutes – even hours – instead of seconds. We’ve all known the irritation when Skype cuts out during a call or when you have to save your files/presentations/photos to a USB stick because you don’t trust the internet connection.

You might think that these frustrations are simply part and parcel of modern business and that, although your current broadband connection is far from perfect, there isn’t anything better available. You might think you already have “fibre” and, reluctantly, you’ve accepted that even though it isn’t great, it’s the best you’re going to get.

The truth is that there is a better alternative available now, and that alternative is full-fibre.

‘Fibre’ and ‘full-fibre’ are very different, and when some of the UK’s biggest providers talk about fibre what you are actually settling for is fibre cables used for only part of the journey, to carry data to your local cabinet. From there, old fashioned copper wire – which is notoriously slow and unreliable – carries the data to and from your premises. This is a classic example of the wool being pulled over consumers’ eyes, a practice which has caught the attention of the Advertising Standards Authority who are currently investigating this serious issue.

Full-fibre, on the other hand, uses a fibre connection the entire length of the journey. That means no copper wires and virtually no slowdown in speeds or drops in quality.

As our reliance on cloud computing and remote solutions continues to grow, so will the realisation that businesses across the UK are being held back.

We want to help businesses access the best possible services.

In fact, full-fibre is up to 100 times faster than the UK’s average business connections, meaning companies using this service can make the most of their digital capabilities. As your staff base grows or your technology evolves, you won’t have to worry about strains on your bandwidth. Whether your workers are in the office, in the field or working remotely, they will be able to simultaneously access your ultrafast network at peak times without a drop in speeds.

If you rely on an internet connection which is barely fast or resilient enough to ‘get by’, then your business is going to struggle to keep up with competitors and be endlessly constrained by the burden of sluggish connectivity.

Full-fibre has an immediate impact on a business’s productivity, efficiency and bottom line while unlocking new opportunities and future proofing businesses for tomorrow. It is a truly limitless service, designed to give businesses the flexibility to reach their full potential.

Every company will have different ambitions, but the need for robust digital infrastructure enabled by full-fibre is fundamental for business success. Ultrafast full-fibre broadband isn’t just a ‘nice to have’ – it is a necessity.

Want to know more? Speak to us at Deep Blue 0333 240 9100 and see how we can help you reach your full connectivity potential.

cityfibre

High Speed Connectivity coming to North Yorkshire

You may have seen in the news recently that MP Andrew Jones took a closer look at how installation of a £46 million full fibre network project is progressing across Knaresborough.

CityFibre is working to bring future-proof connections to households and businesses across Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon, forming part of their £4 billion Gigabit City investment Programme which will bring full fibre networks within reach of up to 8 million homes and businesses across the UK.

As communication specialists we partner with a range of fibre providers to maximise our coverage and this includes CityFibre.

Interested in giving your home or business broadband a boost? As a partner to this alternative fibre network we can help you discover how to register your interest as well as the important news of live dates.

Contact 0333 240 9100 or email theteam@deepbluetelecom.co.uk for more information.

Businessman use the phone in the office, keyboard, mouse, mobile, and monitor detail in the background

Goodbye old telephone network, hello new opportunities

The switch off is coming when the traditional analogue phone network (the Public Switched Telephone Network or PSTN) will reach the end of its life and newer digital technologies will take its place.

When you consider that 16 million lines and channels will need to be migrated to alternative products it’s worth starting to look at other options sooner rather than later. 

Beat the rush!

We’ve detailed below some key facts on the switch off but let’s start with the positives and all the benefits you could enjoy by switching now – in fact we are confident that you will love the functionality of VoIP so much, that you will wonder why you haven’t switched before now!

  • Use your existing numbers
  • Access from any device of your choice
  • Use your existing telephones (unless it is time for an upgrade)
  • Add or remove new numbers and manage other users
  • Voicemail to email notifications so you never miss a call
  • Saves you time/money

If all of this has got you thinking maybe your business is ready to take the next step then speak to Deep Blue. We’ll go over all the details with you, arrange a site survey if needed and give you all the information you need to make the decision.

Call 0333 240 9100 or email theteam@deepbluetelecom.co.uk

Key facts from Openreach

Why is the PSTN being withdrawn?

According to Openreach:

‘the equipment which runs the PSTN is ageing and reaching its end of life.  This means the analogue telephone voice services that are reliant on this network will no longer be available……. Spare parts are becoming out of manufacture and, additionally, many of the people who designed, built and operated the system are retired or close to retirement so skills are increasingly scarce.’ The current PSTN network will be replaced with a fibre and VoIP network.

What products will be affected?

The PSTN Analogue Lines network currently supports a number of products which, when it is withdrawn, will no longer be available. The key one which will affect business customers is the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Many companies have telephony systems which use either ISDN2 or ISDN30 channels to make and receive calls. Over 16 million lines and channels are affected by the switch off and will need migrating prior to 2025.

When are the services being withdrawn?

Openreach plans to stop allowing the connection of new PSTN services, like ISDN, from September 2023 however in some areas this stop sell has already been rolled out.