Is 10 Mbps enough for a Sussex business?

Categories: Web Connectivity

There are plans to make minimum broadband speeds of 10 Mbps a legal right for everyone in the UK but is that enough for a growing business in Brighton or Worthing?

The Chancellor’s Autumn 2015 statement said that the new Universal Service Obligation would be introduced by 2020.

However, that’s only a few years off. By the time we get to 2020, standard speeds required to run a business effectively will have grown exponentially such is the pace of change in this digital era.

The fact is, leased lines remain the best way to ensure a fast and secure broadband connection that can be scaled up to meet the expanding needs of your business.

Have you planned for broadband?

Often the decision to install a leased line comes when you have to relocate your business. You suddenly find the broadband connection at the new office isn’t what you expected it to be.

A company may be very close to the fibre footprint but there are no plans to connect their street to faster speeds because internet service providers say it’s not commercially viable to do so.

“When companies have to move, failure to plan for a good broadband connection can disrupt their business and upset customers,” says Gary Jowett of Computer & Network Consultants (CNC) in Brighton. “A good broadband connection is an essential piece of infrastructure for your business in the same way that good road and rail links are for serving customers and helping employees to do their jobs.”

Leased lines are therefore essential to provide a business with a symmetrical connection – the same speed both ways using fibre optic cables. These are usually provided on 100 Mbps fibre bearers and bought in increments of 10 Mbps. 1000 Mbps bearers are sold with increments of 50 Mbps. To decide which is best for your business it’s a good idea to get advice from an IT consultant who will have experience of dealing with similar organisations.

A guaranteed minimum speed of 10 Mbps by 2020 sounds like a step in the right direction. It will certainly help more people use the internet and boost commerce. However, ambitious South East businesses are already looking for much more than this to expand and thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.