A study done by the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has found that some businesses would consider moving premises for a better broadband connection and that 8Mb should be the minimum broadband srpeed business should receive.
The study found that from the 1,300 small business that were queried around quarter (24%) of these were dissatisfied with their broadband service.
Of those that were dissatisfied, it found that 63% were not happy because of the broadband speed they received and the reliability of their broadband internet connection.
The importance of fast and reliable broadband can been seen with the fact that of those that were not satisfied with their business broadband that 13% of these companies have or would consider moving their business premises to an area where they would be able to received faster broadband and more reliable broadband.
The FSB has called for the Government to make broadband providers be obliged to provide a minimum broadband speed of 8Mb direct to business premises ahead of the Digital Economy Bill which is due to be debated in the House of Lords and is set to be put before the House of Commons on March 22nd.
The results of the FSB survey were as follows:
Satisfaction with broadband provision at business premises:
14% – Very Satisfied
44% – Fairly satisfied
19% – Neither
14% – Fairly dissatisfied
9% – Very dissatisfied
Of the 24% who said that they were dissatisfied to some degree, the results for their resons are:
63% – Unhappy with provide speed/reliability of connection
30% – The area where my business is based has unreliable broadband connection
17% – Unhappy with provider price
13% – Unhappy with provider customer service
6% – Speed/reliability of connection
4% – The rural area where my business is based has low speed
2% – Infrastructure/BT line does not meet speed/ reliability requirements
1% – Too far from exchange
With more and more businesses moving online and more parts of how businesses are run being through the internet a slow or un-reliable broadband connection could severely affect how a business operates.
Only earlier today we reported how the Tories are looking to offer 100Mb broadband across most of the UK in their Technology Manifesto if they were to be elected in the up-coming general election.