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Navigating the Information Superhighway: Choosing the Right Broadband Connection for Your Needs

In today’s fast-paced digital world, a reliable internet connection is crucial for both personal and professional endeavors. Choosing the right broadband connection is akin to selecting the perfect mode of transportation for your journey. In this analogy, we explore the key difference of three main types of broadband connections: SOGEA, FTTP, and leased lines.

SOGEA: The Bicycle of Broadband

Just like a bicycle is a simple and cost-effective means of transportation, Single Order Generic Ethernet Access (SOGEA) is a basic broadband technology that provides a standalone, data-only service without the need for an active phone line. SOGEA gets you where you need to go, offering a connection suitable for light internet usage and small businesses and households. However, much like a bike on a busy highway, SOGEA has limitations. Its speed is constrained, and it may struggle to keep up with the demands of modern digital activities.

FTTP: The Car of Broadband

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) is the broadband equivalent of a car. Just as a car provides a faster and more efficient mode of transportation compared to a bike, FTTP offers high-speed internet by delivering data through fibre-optic cables directly to your premises. This technology ensures a smoother and more reliable connection, making it suitable for larger households, remote work, and bandwidth-intensive activities such as online gaming, streaming and file sharing.

Leased Line: The Lorry of Broadband

For businesses with heavy data traffic and demanding connectivity requirements, a leased line is the broadband equivalent of a lorry. A leased line is a dedicated, high-capacity connection that can provide symmetrical speeds for both uploads and downloads. Similar to how a lorry can carry a substantial amount of cargo, a leased line is designed to handle large volumes of data, making it ideal for enterprises, data centers, and organisations with critical communication needs.

Comparison

While all three broadband options – SOGEA, FTTP, and leased lines – will ultimately get you where you need to go, the speed and capacity of each differ significantly. SOGEA may be suitable for basic internet needs, but it’s comparable to a leisurely bike ride on a busy highway. FTTP, on the other hand, offers a faster and more reliable journey, similar to driving a car on well-maintained roads. Meanwhile, a leased line functions like a lorry on a dedicated expressway, delivering unparalleled speed and capacity.

In the world of broadband, the key is to choose the right mode of transportation for your specific needs. Understanding the nuances of each option can help you make an informed decision. If you would like to discuss your needs, and what Deep Blue can offer you, call George on 0333 240 9100 or email theteam@deepbluetelecom.co.uk

A message from the Captain

Well, the day arrived on Sunday last, and the weather was kind for the Mascot Gold Cup. This message is to say a very big THANK YOU to the 30 fans who made the trip to the races to cheer on our Superhero, Captain Comms, and particularly to the donations received for our chosen charity: Martin House Children’s Hospice. We set a target of £500, and I’m pleased to say we smashed that figure by raising just shy of £800.

Our Sue Ryder Mascot Gold Cup 2023 page was one of the most successful JustGiving pages last month. Out of thousands of fundraisers, we were in the top 20%. Congratulations to each and every-one of you for raising so much for Martin House Hospice for Children and Young People – you are absolute heroes.

Hero on parade!

So, to the day itself. 81 mascots entered which started with The Mascots Parade, view the parade here. Then some horses did their thing for a couple of races before the Mascot Gold Cup, the highlight of the day. You can see how the race played out here.

Raring to go!

Unfortunately our hero, Captain Comms, was given a massive handicap and was told in no uncertain terms by the race officials that he was not allowed to use any of his super-powers. More like slow, buffering internet rather that the superfast speed the Captain is used to delivering. However, like the gallant hero he is, a top ten finish when last off the blocks was more than commendable. So well done to the thoroughbred inside the costume who took over from the original knackered pit pony!!!

If only he could have used his super powers!

Once again, many thanks for your wonderful support and very best regards,

Ross (on behalf of our superhero, The Captain Comms)

Gigabit Voucher Scheme

Gigabit Voucher Scheme running low!

Deep Blue supports businesses to benefit from full fibre connectivity

In 2018, The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) launched the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme to help deliver gigabit capable connectivity to businesses. The scheme is backed by a budget of £67 million for eligible businesses to claim up to £2,500 off the cost of installation of full fibre connectivity to their premises.

With the Voucher Scheme set to run until 2021, or when the budget of £67 million runs out, it’s great to see that so many local businesses are getting on board and investing in an ultrafast and reliable network.

Have you claimed your £2,500 voucher?

LAST CHANCE!

If your business adheres to the following criteria, you are eligible to apply:

– Less than 250 employees
– Turnover less than £50m
– No existing leased lines on site

Get in touch for more details, but don’t leave it too long!

0333 240 9100
Gigabit Voucher Scheme
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO SAVE £3,000

Are you eligible to save £3,000?

ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO SAVE £3,000

The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme is designed to increase the speed of deployment of full fibre networks within the UK by providing micro-grants to support the cost of new connectivity. Vouchers are the mechanism the Scheme uses to provide these grants.

Full fibre networks are the future and getting ready for a gigabit speed is a key step for most businesses.

If you are a small or medium sized business, you may be eligible for vouchers worth up to £3,000 to upgrade your business broadband to a fast and reliable connection over gigabit capable infrastructure.

Am I eligible?
The scheme is available for small to medium sized enterprises.

The category of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is made up of enterprises which employ fewer than 250 persons and which have an annual turnover not exceeding 50 million euro, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43 million euro. This includes sole traders.

What is a gigabit connection?
The UK now has 95% coverage for superfast broadband with speeds of 24 megabits per second or higher. However, most superfast connections still depend on copper telephone wires, which are limited in the speeds they can support. For the fastest and most reliable broadband, capable of delivering gigabit speeds, a full fibre connection is required.

One gigabit is the same as 1,000 megabits – so it’s a big leap forward in connection speeds that could benefit you and your business into the future. Full fibre also supports symmetrical connections – meaning your upload and download speeds can be the same.

Interested?
Want to Check your eligibility?
If you wish to find out more information please get in touch at theteam@deepbluetelecom.co.uk

Win with Deep Blue

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Are you attending Yorkshire’s hottest Conference?

We will once again be exhibiting at Yorkshire Ladies Links Be Inspired Conference which takes place on 8th March at Wetherby Races.

Running for the fourth year, Be Inspired attracts thousands of visitors from across the UK, there really is something for everyone and the best part is it’s FREE to attend.

You won’t want to miss this… take part in our prize draw, all we need is your business card and you could be the proud new owner of one of these fabulous prizes (don’t worry if you can’t make it on the day, head to our social media pages to enter).

First Prize – Dog and Bone Telephone
Second Prize – Telephone Bird Feeder
Third Prize – Telephone Salt & Pepper Pots
5 Runners Up – Earphones

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Come and find us if you would like to discuss working smarter or giving your customers a better service, we’ll even send you away with one of our special telephone chocolates! Of course, if you would like to arrange an appointment with us at the event, or have any questions, please email us at info@deepbluetelecoms.co.uk

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A simple guide to recording and storing conversations to comply with MiFID II

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What is MiFID II?

The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, commonly known as MiFID II, launched in January 2018. First introduced by the EU in response to the 2008 financial crisis, MiFID is a set of sweeping reforms for the financial industry designed to prevent history from repeating itself in the same way again.

Replacing the original Directive, MiFID II brings changes to many areas relating to conduct of business, including far more robust rules around the recording and storing of conversations.

This easy-to-digest eGuide cuts through the jargon and highlight the key parts to help you become compliant.

(click the images to view more)

Who needs to comply?

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What needs to be recorded?

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How do recording need to be stored?

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How do recordings need to be monitored?

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The clock is ticking… are you ready for MiFID II?

Get in touch with Deep Blue today to find out more about how MiFID II is going to impact your organisation and how we can help you comply with these new regulations.

info@deepbluetelecom.co.uk or 0333 240 9100.

Fibre Broadband

Fibre Broadband comes to Town

Fast speeds become everyday not a luxury

So good we’re using it ourselves along with many of our customers.

£3000 Broadband Grant offered to Local Businesses

100’s of local businesses are taking the oppurtunity to gain a £3000 government-funded grant to help upgrade the quality and speeds of their broadband! This means this is the perfect time to join Deep Blue! The grant will effectively pay the installation costs or the upgrading of your connection to a limit of £3000! As an approved service provider for the scheme, check out our latest offers on superfast broadband and other telecoms services!

 

 

30 Years of Mobile Phones!

Technology has come a long way over the last 3 decades which excites me for the future. Britain’s first mobile phone call was made thirty years ago this year! Michael Harrison, the son of former Vodafone Chairman Sir Ernest Harrison, was the first to make a call calling his father at midnight on 1 January, 1985.

Harrison made the historic call using a Transportable Vodafone VT1, which weighed around 5kg and had around 30-minutes of talk time.

Imagine having to carry 5kg in your pocket everywhere instead of the lightweight mobiles we use today! Luckily, making a call these days is a lot easier.. Phew!

Mobiles are now not only for calls and SMS messages, they are now used for Emails, Video Conferencing, VoIP calls, and things such as the “app store” have changed the was we use and think about what our mobiles can do.

What will the next thirty years bring? Who knows! One thing is for sure, mobile technology is now so firmly embedded into our business culture we will never work in the same way again.

Here’s to the next 30 years!

 

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Severe Weather Update

 

Since the second week of December, Scotland, particularly the highlands and islands have experienced widespread damage from extreme weather. Telephone lines have been hit by lightning strikes in some places running at over 100 an hour with lines being hit multiple times.

As a result fault reports in Scotland have risen from an average of 1600 to 2000 reports to 7000! A UK equivalent fault report would be 83000 incidences. Openreach engineers have been deployed to restore services in these truly dreadful conditions. With severe weather also forecast to hit several other areas of the UK we will keep you updated on any impact this has on provision lead times and repair times.