According to communications regulating agency Ofcom, UK consumers now enjoy broadband speeds that are, on average, three times as fast as they were several years ago. Ofcom stated that the average consumer’s internet speed from broadband providers UK is currently pegged at 17.8 MBPS, which is up from 5.2MBPS in 2010. Currently, a quarter of the residential broadband connections are considered ‘superfast,’ or at least 30MBPS and higher.

This, however, reveals just the tip of the iceberg, or more of a broader picture of what’s happening in the UK broadband scene today. In truth, smaller businesses and rural areas are at a risk of being left behind.

In certain rural areas, companies are discovering that access to fast broadband is both complex and expensive. Many of them cannot have access to superfast networks, even when those networks are already connecting up local homes.

Big commercial firms can easily overcome these issues, by setting up leased lines at their business premises. However, this is beyond the reach of small businesses. In the UK, there are still rural areas that have no broadband connections at all, and there are areas with no mobile data service either. This is not even limited to the most remote areas of the UK; there are even existing dead spots in the progressive areas in the South East too.

This data is revealed in a recent study facilitated by the Federation of Small Businesses, called ‘The Fourth Utility.’ In its recently released white paper, the agency stated that broadband providers UK, while doing a fairly good job at connecting up major centres of population, which has largely overlooked the needs of businesses.

One major reason is a lack of competition for small businesses; another is the emphasis on enticing consumers to upgrade their services. The outcomes can be problematic especially where entrepreneurs find that they have faster speeds at home than at work, or else they will be forced to make use of public hotspots to get connected.

The same firm mentioned in one case study, of small business owner Rosemary Smith, a small business owner who either has to update her website late at night or use the free Wi-Fi from a local library to be able to do stuff for her business. Ms. Smith is a resident of Cornwall, but the problem extends beyond that area.

Almost 500,000 smaller businesses still use a dial-up connection for their internet in the UK. Others are even limited, especially by slacking upload speeds. Once again, the main focus of broadband providers in UK should be local services and the smallest of businesses.

Businesses often opt for a symmetrical service, where they find that the upload speeds offered are 0.5MBPS to 1.0MBPS, which are too slow for use on the latest cloud computing and other related services.

Ofcom and FSB for their part would like to see more competition, especially in the fixed business broadband industry. They also believed that the targets meant for the government’s BDUK broadband campaign is not actually ambitious enough.

The Federation of Small Businesses prefer to see a target of 10MBPS broadband speeds for all homes and businesses come 2018, although reaching those level of speeds, with fixed connections in rural areas, will stay as a challenge for broadband providers UK.

Therefore, Ofcom together with the Federation of Small Businesses are calling on the government and broadband providers UK to target upgrades at business parks, business districts, and other local areas. Also, in towns, these sites are being overlooked in favor of domestic broadband connections. However, unless businesses can connect, the true value of consumers’ access to superfast fibre broadband will remain an elusive dream.

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Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator has announced some new 231,00 connections installed before end of March this year, including around three million superfast fibre broadband services that will guarantee superfast speeds even for UK households soon.

The ultra fast broadband connections are on the rise, even for the rural areas in Cymru in Wales. Fast broadband connections are also on its way to households, thanks to the many broadband deals UK that are being worked out this year.

As a matter of fact, by the end of December 2013, approximately 22.57 million broadband lines were reportedly installed and are already active in many homes and businesses surrounding the UK.

Currently, Ofcom, the independent communications regulator, has announced that brand new connections have been installed totaling to 231,000. This figure includes some 2.719 million superfast fibre broadband services, which is up from the previous 2.361 million installed months earlier.

As a matter of fact, fibre broadband has remained to be the highest growth area for the market, with more and more people signing up for faster download speeds.

Superfast Broadband Rollout Across UK

The BT segment in charge of installing and maintaining broadband lines called Openreach, is currently continuing to bring super fast internet speeds to various homes all over the UK.

Whereas the commercial rollout from various broadband deals UK has brought broadband to larger towns and cities, schemes like Digital Scotland and Superfast Cymru in Wales, are offering smaller businesses and far flung rural areas faster internet services.

The chief exec of BT has been found saying that getting the fibre internet to rural areas is hard and complex work, but so far they are making a stready but great progress. Some of the early fibre projects are close to completion and more funds will be released if BT comes under budget or take ups exceed expectations.

Overall Superfast Broadband Performance

To determine how well your current broadband package is performing, try the online digital broadband speed test tool that you can find on the internet today.

It will not only allow you to know your present broadband speed, but also offer you the latest information on who is providing the fastest speeds in your location today. The switching tools allows you access to all the information that you will need for you to make an informed buying decision regarding which package to purchase for your home and to assess the best broadband deals UK in the market.

If you are nevertheless having trouble finding the best broadband deals, you can simply check online for reputable broadband service providers to assist you in your quest for superfast broadband.

Online broadband service providers will help you search through several broadband deals UK and provide you with a wealth of helpful information and advice so your switch is as smooth as can be. On top of that, their services are absolutely free, and there is no obligation to commit or buy. All you have to do is to do an intelligent research on the web for the right broadband service provider that will best work for you considering your needs and requirements.

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As a result of the programme, there are now over 146,676 homes and businesses located in the North West that are now able to access the brand new fibre broadband business plans rollout that BDUK is providing.

The £1.7 billion nationwide launch is right on track to provide superfast broadband to approximately 95% percent of UK homes and businesses by 2017. The speed at which the new fibre technology is being rolled out under the programme is fast accelerating, with up to 40,000 premises obtaining access to superfast broadband each and every single week.

The nationwide superfast broadband rollout is a fundamental part of the government’s long term economic plan to secure UK’s future by offering access to superfast broadband in strategic location which the private sector may be unable to reach. The newest rural rollout will give returns of £20 for every £1 invested, which represents a tremendous value for money.

Faster broadband will not only boost profits for the UK business, but it will likewise create an additional 56,000 jobs in the UK come year 2024. The endeavor involved in the present rollout is expected to offer a £1.5 billion in additional funding to help boost local economies. It is expected that by 2024, the UK government’s current investments in faster broadband will be boosting rural economies by £275 each and every month, or approximately £9 million every single day.

The present plans will make sure that superfast broadband business plans reach 95% percent of the UK; however the government believes that its transformation of the digital landscape will reach every area of UK. The main focus is currently on the remaining 5% percent, or those in the far-flung rural areas which are hard to reach places that are yet to be covered by the superfast broadband. £10m has been invested in a couple of pilot projects which is currently being processed in some eight locations all across UK to investigate further the best ways to tackle these remote areas. The findings will then be utilized to inform further funding bids to make sure that everyone benefits from the transformation of the digital landscape which is now underway.

More than one million homes and businesses have now benefitted as a result of the UK’s government investment in superfast broadband. It is totally changing the way people live and do work. You may now download videos fast, chat online with family and friends wherever they may be with the help of VoIP, and go online all at one from one location.

For businesses, superfast broadband speeds are helping them grow their profits through reduced overheads and accessing markets overseas for the first time. BT thru their CEO expressed that getting fibre to rural areas is difficult, and often complicated, but the project is making a steady progress. BT engineers are all busy to connect homes and businesses whatever the challenges may be. BT is now laying undersea cables to the Outer Hebrides to be able to reach remote villages in Wales and transform other rural areas all across England.

BT has brought their technical expertise in order to make the superfast broadband programme a reality for UK. Some of the earlier projects are now near completion and more funding will soon be released if they come in under budget or exceed expectations.

The UK Secretary for Environment has stated that this milestone only reveals just how far the campaign has gone to bring faster, more reliable broadband to several communities all over the country.

This particular investment spells a huge difference to the rural economy, revolutionizing the way businesses and communities use the internet to secure a much better future for Britain. This project will surely bridge the gap between rural and urban communities, which will help more local economies to grow and thrive.

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Broadband deals in the UK are plentiful, each are attractive on their own right; offering free high-end handsets, free call allowances, free data allowances, and more freebies which explains why more and more people are lured into many broadband deals UK even though they offer very long-term contracts. The catch is they now all offer a very hefty exit charges, are dropping connections, and offer bad customer service which fueled the recent campaign from the charity that urged customers to speak up and fight back.

Nowadays, customers are charged £190, as they switch their broadband contracts with other providers, that is even if they move house or are no longer sticking with their current provider. Subscribers who switch are also faced with exorbitant cancellation fees to the tune of up to £625.

One of the widely complained about issues are the slower than what is advertised connection speeds, recurring faults, and absence of quality customer or after sales support to customers.

Citizens Advice Bureau offer advice services from all over 3,300 community locations in England and Wales today, and it is run by approximately 338 individual charities. Citizens Advice in itself is likewise a registered charity and is likewise a membership organization for bureau. Collectively, they are called the Citizens Advice service. They helped consumers in the telecoms market segment to voice out their many concerns about the negative service they are getting, plus, the new sky high cancellation fees that they are forced to pay in order to switch broadband providers in the UK.

Switching Fees and Other Bills

One in every five customers who complained to Citizens Advice in the past year was involved either in a cancellation or withdrawal dispute with their carrier.

The most common customer grievance brought to Citizens Advice attention comprised of broadband companies deliberate failure to address their complaints and issues regarding costs and billing disputes. All in all the complaints totaled to 18 and the billing concerns overall reached 15. In general, there are approximately 3,300 individuals who allegedly reported internet and broadband connection problems to Citizens Advice since July 2013.

The exorbitant and unjustified fees create a special deterrent in the competition within the broadband market. The ultra high fees are made to lock customers to their broadband deals and prevent them from further shopping around.

Some subscribers who refused to pay the exit or cancellation charges were passed over to their debt collection firms, the charity organization stated. The head of the same charity organization retorted that the internet service providers must not place their customers in shackles in their search for better services, and so they should not be meted out with unreasonable fees that can in turn bury them in debt. All internet users must find a way to easily get out of an inadequate service contracts and broadband speeds that only bring them a daily dose of stress, disappointments, and frustrations.

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The City of London is a corporation running the Square Mile, complained of the unacceptable broadband in the area which makes it an area that’s less preferred by many other businesses. This is not the very first time BT has received complaints regarding their service in London area, because a similar complaint was lodged by Hackney earlier, the firm that’s home to Tech City.

This is an alarming condition for many firms and businesses in the Square Mile who often complained about the broadband speeds and BT being unable to provide the level of service that they require, basically with its decision not to roll out the superfast broadband. Any market failure or malfeasance of this kind is definitely unacceptable for a notable world renowned global financial centre highlights that poor business broadband deals is not an issue merely affecting the rural areas alone.

This problem roots back to the lack of fibre. The City of London’s over thirteen thousand small to medium enterprises as well as over nine thousand residents are still utilizing copper lines, and that BT has not yet rolled out the superfast services. Compared to the rural areas, highly urbanized areas and business have more options at their disposal, even though these options may at times appear too pricey. Business companies can pay for their business broadband deals, but not in cases where prices are too steep.

BT for their part mentioned that dedicated lines are by far the best option for businesses. These are usually the most appropriate services for businesses considering their many demands which are often different from regular consumers. Firms like Hyperoptic likewise provide dedicated lines for residential as well as business segments where the cost is split across various subscribers. Furthermore, the government is offering small business up to £3,000 in funding to assist them in obtaining better business broadband connections.

Nevertheless, the pressure now dawns upon the company and is taking a toll on them. BT mentioned that they are now negotiating with the company regarding how to increase the availability of  a much lower priced fibre broadband which is basically aimed at consumers, home workers and small SME’s and startups.

Virgin Media on the other hand, has not brought itself to deliver fibre broadband in the area, citing that there are a few number of individuals that actually reside in the Square Mile, and that many of the businesses are big multinational companies that prefer to work with multinational telecoms company like BT.

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The initiative of Ofcom to allow UK homes to enjoy super-fast broadband speeds is now coming to a realization. Currently, the average UK broadband speed is pegged at 17.8mbps according to Ofcom. Approximately one in four UK homes has superfast broadband.

Ofcom further claims that instances of superfast broadband abound as the connection speeds go upwards to a burst of up to 30mbps. The growth has been seen to increase from 5% last November 2011 to up to 25% as of November 2013. It cannot be denied that the superfast connections have also improved dramatically where it eventually reached 47mbps by November 2013. The growth is around 47% when compared to the past speeds documented last May 2010.

By now, the average broadband speeds to include ADSL broadband connectivity reached to up to 17.8mbps. Ofcom claims that this is about five times faster than what they had five years ago when the Uk regulator first started making public these figures.

Now, the typical download speed in highly urbanized areas is 31.9mbps which shows an increase of 21% since May of last year. The usual suburban download speed is 21.8mbps, while the average speed in rural areas is set at 11.3mbps which as per stats would reveal a 22% increase from May 2013.

The fundamental reason for the very slow speeds in rural areas is the restricted availability of superfast broadband services. Along with broadband speeds over ADSL, a telecommunications technology that utilizes copper wire telephone network, they are usually slower in rural areas since there is a very lengthy distance that leads to the telephone exchange.

As of this writing, the UK government is actively pushing its campaign towards superfast broadband speeds and it has committed some funds to ensure that this is made possible all across the UK today. The target is to reach around 90 percent superfast coverage all over UK by 2016 and it not too long ago announced an extra £250 million investment to ensure that superfast coverage will be reached to up to 95% of the named locations by 2017.

From among the many ISP packages reported by Ofcom, Virgin Media delivered up to 120mbps service via broadband cables, and is rendered the fastest download speeds for over a 24 hour duration, which averages to 114.9mbps. Next in tow is the up to 76mbps fibre connection packages from renowned broadband providers in UK ranging from Plusnet, TalkTalk, Sky, BT, and EE, which by now delivered download speeds of up to 64.8mbps.

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EE Broadband one of the leading broadband providers in UK, formerly Orange Broadband was the leading most complained broadband service provider in UK for the past couple of months; however Ofcom noticed that complaints have since dropped for the remaining last three months of 2013.

The management head of customer service for BT complained that they are highly disappointed with the results in TV and broadband because they have improved their services from the last quarter of 2013. They have in fact retained the services of some 2,000 extra engineers to help improve their service which brought back jobs to the UK public and paved a way for further investing in brand new systems and processes.

Whereas Orange Broadband company topped the monthly mobile complaint list by a very slim margin of 0.12, while T-Mobile their sister company has 0.11 complaints for every one thousand customers.

EE on the other hand, being disappointed with the latest results would like to challenge the findings of the Ofcom reports. They have an ongoing program to boost their service performance which includes the creation of 1,000 customer service roles all over UK. They are also planning to establish their £50m systems investment, which guarantees their desire to help improve customer user experience. The EE 4G service is yet to be included in these current reports by Ofcom. But some Pay As You Go (PAYG) service providers were not included as there is no single provider that yielded more than thirty complaints regarding their services. However, the mobile provider that received the least complaint averages are O2 and Three with just about 0.03 and 0.05 in every one thousand customers respectively.

One of the fastest broadband in the UK is EE, it is said to have speeds which are faster than those offered in New York City, yet it is regarded as among the most expensive and widely complained about.

With Ofcom actively overseeing telecoms in the UK, their name and shame campaigns have since created a positive impact on the telecoms. Complaint levels have dropped consistently ever since Ofcom made use of the complaint reports. As of this writing Ofcom still receives around three hundred and counting daily complaints on business broadband issues within the UK each day.

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