How businesses can thrive in a changing telecoms era

The UK’s telecoms landscape is undergoing significant changes. Following considerable industry investment in network infrastructure and technology, the UK is entering a new era of connectivity. Improvements in coverage, speed, and reliability are providing tangible benefits that will help UK SMEs boost productivity, inspire greater innovation, and drive growth.

The pace of change in the telecommunications industry is relentless. As Ian Fogg, Director of Network Innovation at CCS Insight, suggests, “The world’s always changing. The more consumers use networks for personal and professional use, the more it puts a load on the network. And if the network stayed the same, it would just get more and more congested, and that would damage the experience for business.”

"I think an SME has a lot of challenges around connectivity,” explains Shaun Collins, Group CEO of CCS Insight. “If you're a small business in the UK, without connectivity, you have no business these days.”

Today, connectivity is viewed as a utility, yet it remains a powerful tool for accelerating growth and driving opportunities for businesses. SMEs' significant reliance on mobile networks means any improvements and enhancements can have a profoundly positive impact on their business, such as boosting productivity or streamlining operations. CCS Insight, in consultation with UK SMEs, have highlighted specific challenges faced by businesses:

• Security: “Even the smallest businesses are concerned about security,” explains Shaun Collins. Keeping customer and business data secure in a hybrid and much more mobile-oriented world is a priority for businesses.
• Coverage: Businesses require reliable, robust, and extensive coverage to thrive and scale. For many, it’s not what coverage is like nationally, but what it’s like locally,  where they need it most.
• Getting support: Many small businesses lack specialists on their team and must rely on the expertise of the networks. As Ian Fogg suggests, “They need somebody they can trust to give them the best advice.”
• Affordability: SMEs require connectivity to perform a wide range of tasks within their businesses on increasingly tight budgets. As Shaun Collins highlights, “Today, you've got to do all of that in a package where money's tight."
• Keeping up to date: Staying on top of mobile improvements is not a day-to-day priority for many businesses.

What are the risks that these challenges pose? Standing still, or worse, falling behind. By leveraging investment and network improvements, SMEs across the UK now have the opportunity to upgrade their businesses and overcome connectivity challenges, benefiting from the advantages of a new network.

The network innovation and improvements funded by an unprecedented £11 billion investment [1] will lay a digital foundation for the country’s growth ambitions. This new network will enable businesses to scale with confidence, improve productivity, and drive greater efficiency.

The merger of Vodafone and Three has created the UK’s largest mobile network operator, with a bold mission: to build the UK’s best network. It’s not just a headline, it’s a game-changer for businesses that’s delivering tangible improvements in coverage, speed, and reliability today.

The new and improved network will have fewer not-spots, faster downloads, and a more reliable connection.

• No more not spots
  The new network will remove almost 16,500 square kilometres of ‘not-spots’ across the country [1], allowing businesses to stay connected in rural or suburban areas.
  
• Faster, more reliable connectivity
  UK SMEs can expect a noticeable improvement in speeds. On the new network, Three Business customers can enjoy speeds up to 20% faster [1], enabling quicker uploads and downloads, smoother video calls, and more reliable mobile payments and cloud access.
• Automatic access to the strongest signal
  Businesses already on Three or Vodafone will have greater peace of mind regarding reliability, as mobile devices will automatically connect to the strongest available signal to deliver the best possible experience. [1]

The new network offers UK SMEs the opportunity to overcome their current challenges. CCS Insight believe businesses can take advantage of the developments and improvements in a network by following these simple steps:

• Check your coverage: Use the postcode checker to see the latest 4G and 5G coverage in your area.
• Review your needs: With faster and more reliable connectivity, now is the time to explore new digital tools, cloud services, and mobile solutions that can help your business thrive.
• Talk to your provider: Ask about how these changes will affect your business plan, and what you can do to maximise the benefits.
• Look beyond price, consider value: “I think it’s a risky thing to compare anything based on price alone,” said Ian Fogg, CCS Insight. “We know that other things are important alongside price.” These include customer support, flexible plans, improved networks and better coverage.
• Be proactive, don’t wait for problems to arise: Businesses can take advantage of new technologies and innovations by being proactive and staying ahead of their competitors.

The investment in infrastructure, new technologies, and innovation is about today as much as it is about the future. The changes are delivering real, immediate benefits to UK SMEs, helping them overcome the challenges they’re currently facing. With better coverage, faster speeds, and a more reliable merged network, your business can operate with confidence.

Seize the advantage and become more competitive. The new era of connectivity is here so don’t just keep up - get ahead.

Footnotes

1.  VodafoneThree signs multibillion pound investment deals

• £11 billion investment
• 16,500 square kilometres of “not spots” across the country
• Three Business customers will enjoy 4G speeds up to 20% faster
• Mobile devices will automatically connect to the strongest available signal to deliver the best possible experience.