Digitally Deprived UK Businesses Race to Sign-up for Broadband from ITS

The ITS Technology Group, which manages and builds various superfast wireless and fixed line broadband networks (East Manchester, Hammersmith and Fulham etc.), claims that their move to push faster Internet connectivity into digitally deprived urban business parks has seen success with 500 new firms signing up in a very short space of time.

Apparently, in the last two months alone, uptake has accelerated from just 25 customers to more than 500 businesses, which are signing up by utilising the government’s Broadband Delivery UK managed Connection Voucher scheme. The scheme offers vouchers worth up to £3,000 to help SME businesses get a superfast broadband (30Mbps+) connection installed.

Roy Shelton, Group CEO of ITS, said:

“Digital exclusion is more often associated with rural not spot locations, but in the course of our business, it is just as apparent in urban locations. Many of the businesses that have just signed up with us, have been over promised and under delivered to by a number of broadband suppliers; and with the only alternatives being to lease dedicated lines, put up and make do, or relocate, they have felt hard done by.

ITS’ services not only offer them a cost effective solution, but as the connection is subsidised by the government’s BDUK voucher scheme, it means that superfast broadband is now accessible to businesses of all shapes and sizes that fit the criteria. These services are transformational in that it allows these businesses to take full advantage of what connectivity has to offer including access to a plethora of cloud-based services which will help them to collaborate and improve.”

Alternative network operators like ITS typically concentrate on the areas that BT and Virgin Media have left neglected, which includes locations where SMEs are often left with a choice between either a slow first generation ADSL link or a dedicated leased line. But leased lines are of little use for smaller businesses as the costs are often disproportionally high.

ITS offers some 36Mbps broadband services from as little as £29.99 per month and clearly this is proving attractive. So far 100 customers are now receiving services from ITS, thanks to the new voucher scheme, and the provider is connecting businesses at a rate of 80 a week.