Nov 5, 2019 | Blog, Data, News
Alright, brass tacks: business internet is boring. We know it. You know it. Let’s not pretend it’s any more invigorating than watching paint dry.
But here’s another fact: failing to upgrade your network is going to seriously set your business back… if it isn’t doing so already.
If you sit there and do nothing about your internet, you’re courting disaster. Don’t wait for these problems to fall on top of you like a tonne of bricks. Read our bull-free blog to find a resolution.
Your current solution is probably insufficient
Do sluggish internet speeds ever bring your business to a crawl? You’re not alone. While 95% of the UK now has ‘superfast broadband’, the reality of what ‘fast’ looks like isn’t keeping pace.
Most ‘superfast’ connections still depend on copper telephone wires, which are limited to speeds of only 80Mbs – at best. It’s easy to see why companies settle for less-than adequate speeds. Shopping for a new provider is a pain, while upgrading to fibre-optic broadband might seem like an overhaul you can’t face or afford.
However, when you consider that fibre-optic based broadband lines can go from 100Mbs up to 1,000Mbs, it’s hardly surprising that your business is trailing behind by sitting tight with copper telephone wires.
The future of business internet lies in fibre
Fibre-optic lines offer added convenience, better call quality, and increased cost-efficiency in the long-term. The logic to switch is there, but if you’re reluctant to make the move you should know the government is going to ban copper lines altogether.
In three years’ time, new copper lines will no longer be sold, and by 2025 the aim is to phase them out for all customers.
In summary: finding a provider is impossible and your internet connection is soon to become obsolete. If you don’t act – your business is going to slow to a crawl.
The solution? Switch to fibre ASAP – the lines that carry the fastest internet speeds. The government are actually pushing to move everyone over to digital services by 2025. While that may sound like a pain, it’s actually a good thing.
You’ll need to install fibre very soon because the big guys say so – but you’ll enjoy a better connection as a result.
Keeping this in mind will make picking a provider much simpler, too. Narrow your search down to people who’re going to help you set up and get going – with added funding from the government…
The secret to grabbing better value gigabit
To encourage businesses to abandon their commitment to copper wire, the government are offering grants (temporarily) to small businesses to help them fund the switch to fibre optic.
The Gigabit Voucher Scheme doesn’t ask for anything from you in return; the government are just desperate to integrate gigabit connections across the UK as fast as they possibly can.
There’s only a bit of money left in the pot though, so you’ll need to take action quick. Or, Nxcoms can do all the work and apply for you. If you’re eligible – and you probably are – then you’ll bank a whopping £2,500 spending money for your gigabit connection.
Our guys will even throw a free router into the deal so you can get going ASAP for less.
Connect with Nxcoms
There’s no denying your SME should be looking at the higher end of the speed scale. The good news is that upgrading doesn’t need to be difficult – and it definitely doesn’t need to be out of your price range.
Grab the government grants through Nxcoms today. If you’re unclear about what the switch involves, just get in touch and we’ll explain the process without those convoluted telecoms buzzwords. We focus on fast, simple, clear communication – both in customer services and solutions.
Mar 11, 2019 | Blog, Connectivity, Data, News
The Government is committed to a full fibre Britain and they want to help your business keep up.
Britain’s average internet speed ranks 31st in the world, falling behind most of Europe, Thailand and New Zealand. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have launched their £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme in response to these findings.
This scheme allows small businesses to claim up to £2,500 towards the installation of gigabit-capable internet connections, as part of a £200 million ‘full fibre’ investment plan.
The benefits of claiming a voucher
Businesses should be thinking seriously about taking advantage of this offer and here’s why…
Keep up to speed
Over 95% of the UK now has coverage for superfast broadband with speeds of 24 megabits per second or higher. However, most connections still depend on copper telephone wires, which are limited in the speeds they can support.
If your business depends on fast and reliable broadband, capable of delivering gigabit speeds, a full fibre connection is required.
Taking this leap forward in connection speeds will massively benefit you and your business in the future.
Save thousands of pounds
Businesses can claim up to £2,500 towards infrastructure costs of a gigabit-capable connection, proving certain criteria are met.
Increase productivity
Under the previous broadband voucher scheme, 50,000 businesses increased their internet connections and of these, 86% reported the internet upgrade had increased the productivity of their employees.
Why nxcoms?
We care about each and every one of our customers and excel in providing a bespoke, personal service.
Our experience and expertise in telecoms means we understand how critical the internet is to your business. Our service level agreement guarantees 99.99% availability with a 4-hour fix rate should the unexpected happen.
Not only do we provide competitive pricing – offering amongst the lowest in the UK – but we also provide the nxcoms service promise, meaning we offer the ultimate internet connectivity, backed-up by our unrivaled expertise and a personal, hands-on approach.
If you want to ensure your business stays competitive with the quickest, most consistent and cost-effective internet connection, then give us a call on 0161 711 1100, email info@nxcoms.co.uk or text GIGABIT to 84433 to arrange a call back.
Jan 14, 2019 | Blog, Connectivity, Data, News
Businesses are benefiting from faster, more reliable internet connections thanks to dedicated leased lines.
Data demands are growing rapidly and businesses are finding they require a faster, more secure connection to keep up with the competition and to provide the service their customers expect.
A dedicated leased line is a fibre optic cable that runs from your business directly to the exchange. The cable can deliver ultra-fast speeds that no other service can beat.
A third of manufacturers have invested in a dedicated leased line connection and other companies are following suit. ( According to EEF, May 2016 )
The benefits of switching to a leased line
Businesses can benefit from switching from broadband to a dedicated leased line in many ways:
Consistency and scalability
With the rise of technology, businesses now rely on a consistent and high-speed internet connection. SME’s are expected to respond to customers in an instant, to store and transfer large amounts of data daily and to work without disruption.
A dedicated leased line ensures companies no longer have to share their connectivity with others which can often slow the connection down, especially at busy times. Instead, you’ll receive a consistent, committed bandwidth at all times meaning you can always provide and achieve what you promise to your customers.
The use of a leased line also means you can quickly and easily scale your connectivity up or down, so you always pay for the connectivity that matches the exact demands of your business.
Cost-saving
With scalability, also comes cost-saving. The benefit of being able to scale your connectivity to adapt to your changing requirements means you can achieve the most cost-effective connectivity for your business, at all times.
The cost of leased lines has dropped and they are becoming a much more cost-effective option for many businesses.
Satisfied customers
We all know that customers come first, which is why you should consider customer satisfaction when making business decisions. An excellent internet connection ensures you can deliver promises to customers without the risk of delays and downtime and also allows you to upload and download large data files in a flash.
Leased lines support VPN and remote access so your customer data can be kept safe and secure and your staff can access it from anywhere. Allowing staff to work from anywhere can also result in attracting the best talent which in turn results in a great service and happy customers.
62% of firms are planning to invest more in internet connected capital equipment in the next five years ( According to EEF, May 2016 ) so it’s imperative businesses keep up with the curve.
Why nxcoms?
Our experience and expertise in telecoms means we understand how critical the internet is to your business. Our service level agreement guarantees 99.99% availability with a 4-hour fix rate should the unexpected happen.
Not only do we provide competitive pricing – offering amongst the lowest in the UK – but we also provide the nxcoms service promise, meaning we offer the ultimate internet connectivity, backed-up by our unrivaled expertise and a personal, hands-on approach.
If you want to ensure your business stays competitive with the quickest, most consistent and cost-effective internet connection, then give us a call on 0161 711 1100, email info@nxcoms.co.uk or text NXCOMS to 84433 to arrange a call back.
Aug 6, 2018 | Blog, Data, News
There are several reasons why you may have slow broadband – first and foremost its usually down to the physical distance from the telephone exchange. Broadband is provided over a copper cable and the longer the cable, the slower the speed. If the copper cable is poor quality or is damaged then this will also affect your broadband speed.
The super-fast alternative to standard broadband is Fibre Optic Broadband. This is also known as FTTC or BT infinity. Unlike standard broadband, this type of service has a fibre optic cable from the local exchange to the green street cabinet. However. the last mile from the cabinet to your premises still remains copper cables though and so the distance restrictions may still affect your speed.
Unfortunately, Fibre Optic broadband isn’t available in all areas, and many businesses in rural areas or on industrial estates will struggle to get it at all!
If slow broadband is affecting your business, and you cant get Fibre Optic Broadband……….how else can you get faster internet access?
Well the first alternative is quite simple – by using the mobile phone network. Mobile data connections provide internet speeds similar to fibre optic broadband but over the mobile phone network. In order to get a mobile data connection you need to be in an area covered by 4G which fortunately is becoming more widespread. 4G routers are available which use a mobile phone sim card and can connect your computer network to the internet.
If 4G isn’t available then you may need to consider a dedicated leased line. This type of internet connection requires a dedicated fibre optic cable to be installed in your premises. This can often mean a new cable has to be laid and routed into your premises, and may mean a long lead time of 3 months or more to get the service. Once installed, the fibre optic cable can deliver ultra-fast speeds that no other service can beat, however this comes at a higher price and can often cost several hundred pounds a month. The good news is, however, that you get a dedicated line which is 100% used by yourself, and it comes with guaranteed up-times an a service level agreement to ensure you are connected at all times. This can be a great option for those businesses which rely on the internet to operate.
So, in order to get faster broadband you may need to choose between one of the alternatives which suits your business needs the best. If your business only has occasional use then mobile data may be better, but if you are a heavy internet user, or need a guaranteed 24/7 connection, then getting a dedicated leased line will be the best option in the longer term.
If you would like to find out more on how nxcoms can help your business become faster and more efficient through new technology, why not call us on 0161 711 1100 or email info@nxcoms.co.uk
