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Time to deliver on broadband promises, say small businesses, as current scale of poor connectivity laid bare

Time to deliver on broadband promises, say small businesses, as current scale of poor connectivity laid bare

Small businesses are being held back by poor broadband and mobile connections, according to new research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The findings, revealed in FSB’s new digital infrastructure report Lost Connection, show that 43% in the East Midlands are struggling with broadband speeds that are insufficient for their current business needs. Nearly half (46%) in the region say their broadband is not good enough for their future needs.

The report also explores mobile connectivity, with data showing almost half (42%) of small firms in the region cannot get a good connection on their mobile phones.

Connection issues are crushing the growth and productivity of small business owners, with more than one in three (32%) reporting poor mobile and broadband connection has prevented them from contacting or being contacted by existing customers – or even potential new clients.

A similar number (30%) said poor connection is a barrier to growing their business, while over a quarter (26%) of small firms saying poor mobile coverage has led to a loss of business or sales.

With over half (52%) of business owners revealing they want to adopt full fibre when it becomes available in their area, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ambitious promise of nationwide full fibre or gigabit capable broadband by 2025 must be kept, according to FSB. The body is calling on Government, industry and regulators to work together to remove barriers to the roll out of full fibre, to resolve the productivity puzzle and ensure no one is left behind as we enter the fourth industrial revolution.

It's urging a strong focus on the small businesses currently struggling with poor internet connection, with an emphasis on connecting those that are being left behind. FSB is also calling for a public commitment from Government that every premises will receive download speeds of at least 10 megabits per second (Mbps) by the end of 2021, regardless of whether or not they have proactively asked to be connected under the Universal Service Obligation (USO).

The USO, which comes into force next March, gives residents and businesses the legal right to request a ‘decent’ broadband connection providing a download speed of at least 10 Mbps. However, FSB statistics show that almost a third (30%) of small firms in the East Midlands are still grappling with download speeds of less than 10 Mbps.

To help improve network coverage and attempt to get rid of ‘not spots’ in rural areas, FSB is supporting the idea of a shared rural network among the four large mobile network operators to try to bridge the gap in phone reception.

FSB is also calling for the scheduled spectrum band auction of both 4G and 5G take place without delay, which will help improve mobile reception.

Mike Cherry, FSB National Chairman, said: 

“Unfortunately, an unreliable internet connection and poor phone signal are familiar challenges for small businesses across the UK.

“Trying to communicate with new and potential clients while you can’t access your emails or your phone signal drops out is not only frustrating but, as we see in this new research, causes the loss of vital business. This is hugely problematic for a small firms, hampering the productivity of the UK’s army of small businesses and sole traders.

“These findings are particularly stark in rural areas where even more business owners are struggling to communicate with customers.

“Government is promising ambitious full fibre and gigabit capable broadband targets, which are very much welcomed, but now must translate words into action to help millions of small businesses. There’s still a huge number of small firms not even getting download speeds of at least 10 Mbps – what is termed as a ‘decent’ connection. We need Government to fully commit to every premises receiving at least that by the end of 2021 by overcoming the infrastructure and market related issues that are preventing this.

“Targeting not spots and creating a shared rural network would go some way to help bridge that communication gap in the countryside, allowing mobile phone users to connect, regardless of what network they are on.

“Improving digital connectivity is an urgent priority to ensure our 5.8 million-strong small business community remains the engine of the UK economy.”


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