Improvements in fibre
In recent years, general accessibility to fibre optic connections has improved, thanks to the national Openreach rollout. Compared to ten years ago, many more homes and businesses are able to access superfast fibre than ever, with gigabit broadband (1000Mbps or more) the next target.
Openreach has said that it aims to build Full Fibre to 25 million homes and businesses nationwide by December 2026, meaning that services are expected to get even faster for businesses that want to upgrade.
In the meantime, Openreach offers a postcode search service, which allows you to find the specific broadband connections that are available at your address or place of business.
The importance of speed to business broadband
There are still some small business operators who struggle with all facets of digital connectivity – a big problem when internet access is so vital to businesses of all types in our modern world.
It is crucial in such a landscape to get the right broadband deal for your business, and for it to be installed when you need it. A poor internet connection will have a serious detrimental effect on productivity, restrict home and remote workers, hamper international business and prove detrimental to hosted or cloud-based services.
For example, services such as cloud computing, email, VoIP telephony, and VPNs, could be rendered almost useless due to insufficient internet speed. Insufficient internet hits sales hard. For e-commerce sites in particular, web loading times are crucial.
Delays of microseconds can potentially cause a significant loss of turnover. Tests at Amazon revealed similar results: every 100 ms increase in load time of Amazon.com decreased sales by 1 per cent (Kohavi and Longbotham 2007). Google discovered that a change in a 10- result page loading in 0.4 seconds to a 30-result page loading in 0.9 seconds decreased traffic and ad revenues by 20 per cent (Linden 2006).
Finding a business broadband package
If you’re in the process of setting up a small business or are looking to upgrade your existing broadband then are a few issues to consider before signing up. First, you have to choose the correct broadband for your needs. There are a multitude of different connectivity types available for companies and your provider should be able to make sense of them all for you, so you are in a position to make the right choice to suit your needs. The variables you need to consider include the number of users connecting from your premises as well as whether you download or upload more information.
Tailored packages through a provider to suit your needs are the best option once an assessment has been made, but remember that as your business grows your requirements will no doubt also change so always consider future growth.
Remember to ensure that a form of technical support is included free of charge in the package you choose. A static IP address is the most suitable choice for businesses as this means your identifying number will always remain the same; dynamic IP addresses change with each connection.
The benefits of a static IP including the ability to access advanced internet facilities and allows you to build websites, run a server and create an email account to send emails to your own website domain. Broadband is the one thing that business cannot afford to cut corners on and this tool is vital for long-term growth and sustainability.
The two providers below offer a range of different packages to suit businesses of different sizes and with varying demands:
Sky Business offers a variety of superfast and fibre broadband options, making it easy to choose the perfect fit for your business. With speeds starting at 76 Mb/s for smaller operations and reaching up to 900 Mb/s for businesses needing top-tier performance and reliability, there’s a solution for every need.
Each speed tier is available in three packages: Essential, Advanced, and Ultimate. All packages include:
- 24/7 support
- Dedicated guest WiFi for your customers
- Built-in protection against phishing and malware threats
Advanced and Ultimate tiers also include 4G backup, ensuring your business stays online if the main connection fails. The Ultimate package further enhances your setup with enhanced security features and a static IP address.
Pricing per month (24 month contract):
- 76 Mb/s: Essential(£24.95), Advanced (£34.95), Ultimate (£44.95)
- 150 Mb/s: Essential(£29.95), Advanced (£39.95), Ultimate (£49.95)
- 300 Mb/s: Essential(£32.95), Advanced (£42.95), Ultimate (£52.95)
- 500 Mb/s: Essential(£35.95), Advanced (£45.95), Ultimate (£55.95)
- 900 Mb/s: Essential(£40.95), Advanced (£50.95), Ultimate (£60.95)
All plans come with a 24-month contract, and prices listed do not include VAT. BT has partnered with mobile provider EE to offer customers broader access to a range of services. While some hardware is included in the above packages, additional equipment such as the BT Business Hub, Complete Wi-Fi, Hybrid connectivity, and Digital Phone Line can be purchased separately.
Every package includes:
- A minimum speed guarantee
- Guest WiFi access
- Content controls
- Web Protect security features
Package Pricing:
- Essential – Starting from £22.95. Download speeds up to 900 Mbps. Upload speeds up to 19 Mbps
- Enhanced – Starting from £32.95. Download speeds up to 900 Mbps. Upload speeds up to 19 Mbps
- Pro – Starting from £42.95. Download speeds up to 900 Mbps. Upload speeds up to 104 Mbps
Compare providers and bundles
Don’t be afraid to obtain as much information as possible from your potential provider and it’s reassuring to know that they are good deals available through competitive providers if you’re looking for reliable but cheap broadband. It is possible to measure your broadband speed; On the Broadband Choices page you can take a test and check how your broadband is performing.
See also:
How to compare business broadband deals – It’s always worth taking the time to research what’s out there.
Finding superfast broadband for your business – There are ways of securing better speeds.