Today, four in five Brits are digital buyers, according to Statista. To keep up with this enduring trend, which finds online transactions increasingly attractive, more and more SMEs are transitioning to remote setups to save on the costs of a physical shop front, opting instead for affordable virtual office services such as those provided at Impact Brixton. A 2023 report from the UK Chamber of Commerce reveals that 27% of SME respondents believe they’ll be working fully remotely within the next few years.
But while going fully remote definitely saves on costs, it comes with its own set of requirements. The same study by the UK Chamber of Commerce found that many SMEs are concerned about whether or not they have the right connectivity tools, and 25% are worried they don’t have enough knowledge to make the right purchasing decisions for this technology.
Given that an internet connection is the foundation of any remote online business, this is the first tech essential that SMEs need to better understand. And if you ask us, with ever increasing amounts of data shared, a fibre broadband connection is the only way to go.
If you’re running an SME that you want to enhance with better connectivity, here’s a handy fibre broadband guide to help you.
What is fibre broadband?
As its name implies, fibre broadband is a type of broadband connection that uses fibre optic cables instead of more traditional copper ones. These fibre optic cables are usually made of either glass or plastic and can allow data to travel at the speed of light. As such, fibre broadband can be up to 400 times faster than ADSL broadband – ADSL broadband runs at speeds between 8-24Mbps, while fibre broadbands can max out at upwards of 2,000Mbps. Pretty speedy!
What’s more, fibre broadband can be connected via two primary ways. According to service provider Amvia, the first is fibre to the home (FTTH), which is also called fibre to the premises (FTTP) or ‘full fibre’. This refers to a fibre connection wherein the cables are directly linked to the home, meaning there is less latency. An alternative type of fibre broadband is called fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) or part-fibre. This is in reference to the green cabinet located at street level, from which cables will lead to your property. FTTC is not quite as fast as FTTP, and it does require a landline. However, its speeds are still much faster than ADSL!
Speaking of speed, you’ll also notice that fibre broadband packages are sometimes categorised as ultrafast and hyperfast. As you may guess from their names, these are based on median upload and download speeds. Zen Internet, which is one of the most popular broadband providers in the UK, states that ultrafast fibre packages usually have average speeds of 900Mbps. Meanwhile, Wildanet broadband explains that hyperfast packages can reach up to 1,000Mbps or more. These hyperfast packages are still relatively new, though, so you may have to wait for them to become available in your area!
What should you look for in a fibre service provider?
1. Prioritised business service-level-agreement
Research from Imperial College London found that businesses in the UK lose up to £12.3 billion annually due to internet downtime. Response time is a crucial factor for many customers who may opt to do business elsewhere if they feel like they’ve been made to wait too long. On top of this, downtime can reduce the amount of work accomplished per day since remote work is all done online. To address this, any fibre business broadband deal should include a service-level-agreement (SLA) that not only ensures proper installation but a window of hands-on support afterwards. For example, Zzoomm fibre broadband business packages include a 6-hour SLA that connects you to local experts. These specialists include installations and maintenance teams who are situated in your area, ensuring they can promptly address any questions or fix any concerns you may have. This reduces the chances of costly broadband issues, and keeps your business on track to deliver a prompt and efficient service.
2. Symmetrical and dedicated speeds
Some broadband packages tend to use marketing language that can be misleading. For instance, many will post about business fibre plans with speeds up to XYZ. This may seem transparent and promising. However, the use of “up to” implies that these impressive speeds are not guaranteed. In the online age, where time is money, you definitely don’t want to fall behind. So instead, look for plans that promise dedicated speeds. For example, Virgin Media’s O2 plans offer uncongested connectivity as they utilise uncontended internet access. Another aspect you should look for is symmetrical speed. This refers to having the upload and download speeds match so that you can use the internet without issues, regardless of the task you’re ticking off your to-do list.
3. Unlimited data
Finally, it’s a really good idea to look for a fibre broadband plan that offers unlimited data. This means that you and your team don’t have to worry about data caps kicking in during the work day, and gives you peace of mind that you can do data-heavy activities like high-def uploads or streaming without suddenly having your connection slow down.
Business benefits of fibre broadband
Undoubtedly, the biggest perks of having a fibre broadband-empowered business are improved communications and productivity. Since you’re working remotely, communication channels can make or break your team. Even with the right morale and culture, a remote business can only function for so long without having its members regularly touch base. And without the right communication, misunderstandings and bottlenecks can easily arise. This is especially true if you’ve outsourced virtual employees who cannot reach you because your broadband is faulty! When you have fibre broadband, you can host Zoom meetings, Slack huddles, and the like without having to worry about any connectivity problems – and you can continue to deliver the fast and effective service that today’s digital consumers have come to expect.
Conclusion
All in all, fibre broadband is an investment that is definitely worth making. As a remote business, improved connectivity makes you more competitive in the online and offline spheres. For more tips and tricks on what you need to make sure your small business is running at its absolute best, check the rest of our blog here!
