Faster Britain
Faster Britain
The Next Generation of business connectivity in the UK
Background
The UK’s telecommunications infrastructure is being overhauled, with the 2025 copper switch off looming. We’re now in the grips of a fibre revolution. Delivering warp-factor, Gigabit-capable speeds, these networks are powering connectivity and applications that are upping productivity and allowing us to collaborate and innovate around the
globe (or just down the road) in real time. The demand for a gigabit capable future is increasing, so it’s important not to get left behind. Now is the time to make the move, before it’s too late.
With bigger demands on connectivity at business premises than at domestic properties, having the best IT infrastructure connecting us to the world, and to our customers is key for better business. Though it can be said that greater speeds will equal more efficiency, speed isn’t the only factor for organisations to consider. Reliability is not to be overlooked, especially when we think of the ways in which businesses rely on their connectivity to prevent problems, as well as to create opportunities.
The Reliable Connectivity Provided by Full Fibre Helps to:
- Keep everyone safe and secure (for example – building alarms, keypad entry systems, emergency phonelines in lifts),
which exist as much for present day peace of mind as they do to be responsive in a future emergency or crisis. - Pave the way for innovation through creative technology, such as robotics, process automation, and Augmented/Virtual Reality (AR/VR) – an effective way to get ahead of the competition and keep your workforce happy.
- Ensure the smooth and enjoyable running of meetings, conferences and training events hosted anywhere in the world and streamed straight into the office (because nobody wants to say or hear the words “you’ve frozen”)
- Support large-scale businesses and corporations with the functionality and peace of mind of cloud-based applications plus the limitless opportunity to embed technological applications to their offering as part of a very bright future.
- Enable businesses to make and receive payments (for example, via payment portals and card/contactless terminals),
because without financial transactions, no business is being done. - Scale businesses for growth by ensuring smoother and speedier onboarding processes and fully functional capability of premises
What Speeds are Available?
Full fibre connected businesses can switch from 100Mbps up to 10Gbps, meaning the product is suitable for organisations of all sizes, and operating at different stages of growth. The beauty of a full fibre solution is that it has the capability to do whatever a business needs as it scales, grows and thrives.
Product options for full fibre include those that concentrate on internet and cloud access with superior back-up capability, to support for private data networks and Direct Internet Access (DIA) on point-to-point circuits, to fully-bespoke, private networks as part of a business’s own infrastructure. We also provide a strong portfolio of value added services designed to reinforce network security and prioritise continuity in the face of interruption.
So, while 10Gbps may not be required at the very start for an SME, for example, it’s nice to know that a full fibre solution is one that suits their current needs in terms of speed, reliability and resilience – as well as one that builds the most solid foundations for future growth using the most exciting technology from the Internet of Things.
When is Full Fibre Available?
Covering almost half a million-business premises now, Faster Britain is making waves in the digital connectivity sphere. And, if our networks don’t reach you yet, we use several strategic partnerships that allow us to connect to any business in the UK, providing the Faster Britain experience no matter where you are.
Switching Off the Old Copper Network
When full fibre has been installed in an exchange area and 75% of customers are able to order full fibre a stop sale will be announced and it will no longer be possible to order new legacy services and those running on copper lines, which includes standard ADSL and FTTC broadband, analogue telephone lines, ISDN2 and ISDN30. During the next two years following the stop sale customers would be expected to migrate their services to alternative digital products and then there would be a cease of all the old legacy services at the exchange.
Customers may order these new services at any time they become available and do not need to wait for the stop sale to be announced to upgrade.
Key Points
When 75% of the homes and businesses connected to a particular exchange can order Full Fibre it will not be possible to order old copper products if Full Fibre is available at the premises, this includes FTTC, ADSL, analogue lines, and ISDN.
BT Openreach have already stopped providing copper products in Salisbury and Wiltshire and have announced a further 550 locations, where they will new supply of copper products between now and August 2022.
From September 2023 it will only be possible to order digital phone services across the UK.
Where it is not possible to receive Full Fibre at the premises customers will be able to retain existing copper products until full fibre is available.
Vulnerable customers or customers with critical equipment that might not work should contact their service provider for guidance.
Plum Communications will assist with your full fibre journey
Step One - Contact Plum Communications
Register with Plum Communications so we can update you on progress and availability in your area.
Step Two - Review of current services
Plum provide a full range of handsets to suit your needs.
Step Three - Review of customer requirements
We will conduct a short online interview to determine your future requirements so we can recommend appropriate services for you.
Step Four - Report of available services
Plum Communications will run searches to determine fibre and other service availability in your location(s) .
Step Five - Plan for upgrade
Most systems include some level of reporting, for more complex needs we have add on services available to report on individual users and whole company activity.
Step Six - Implementation
Plum Communications will implement your agreed plan and provide you with regular progress updates.
Step Seven - Audit and review
Following completion of the project Plum Communications will carry out an audit and review to confirm the work has been completed to plan.
