Lightning-fast Internet connectivity is coming to the high street
The last two years have seen a big shift toward the hybrid business model in the small business sector, with online trading becoming an integral part of many independent retailers’ business plans. Businesses had to react quickly to the pandemic by setting up online stores in addition to offering the traditional shop-front service. Gift shops found it was the only way to move stock, estate agents offered video show-arounds, and food and drink outlets shifted towards doorstep deliveries.
With a new reliance on ‘digital’, for the first time, fast and reliable Internet connectivity became a key consideration for small businesses such as these. That’s why Triangle Networks has developed its new Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) for Business service, which is currently being rolled out in locations across the country - Milton Keynes, Leicester, Swindon, Cheltenham and Gloucester, with new launches planned in Bath, Weston-super-Mare and Plymouth early this year. This new product opens up affordable, full-fibre connectivity to smaller businesses that were previously only able to access unreliable copper and part-fibre services.
Business FTTP is a crucial step forward in the full-fibre revolution. Previously, most small businesses had no choice but to run their operations using a sub-standard copper-based connection. Now, for a similar price, these businesses will be able to access ultra-fast full-fibre services which will support them as we move further into the gigabit era.
Working with a number of UK cities current network of IT businesses, we’re offering lightning-fast internet connectivity for a fraction of the previous cost so that high street businesses can achieve their full potential. This is welcome news to all, but particularly those that have seen their bottom line hit by ongoing restrictions.
Previously, most businesses would pay upwards of £400 per month for a 100Mbps full-fibre ethernet service, or £199 per month on CityFibre's existing metro networks. Now, Triangle have introduced a 900Mbps internet service over CityFibre's new FTTP network costing less than £100 per month for businesses to access. Businesses will be able to afford state-of-the-art digital connectivity to underpin their operations, whilst making cost savings of between £2-4k per year.
With a shift towards supporting local businesses such as cafes, bars, pubs, restaurants and takeaways, there is an increasing demand for ultrafast wireless internet access. The findings of The Allegra Group’s 2021 Impact of Coffee survey revealed that 65% of people would visit local coffee shops over the coming months to support them as they bounce back from the pandemic, with 68% of people agreeing that supporting local coffee shops was important when deciding where to drink their coffee.
But trends are going in two ways, although there has been a huge rise in restaurant, cafe and bar use for work, there has also been a dramatic increase in ‘ordering in’ and online shopping. 580,000 restaurants are using Just Eat worldwide and 140,000 are connected to Deliveroo. Deliveroo’s consumer base reached an average of 7.8 million monthly active consumers in the second quarter of 2021. Also, Tech UK reported that consumer trends toward shopping online have also been accelerated with a quarter (25.5%) of all UK retail sales in August 2021 made online, up from 18.1% in August 2019.
With shopping habits changing and huge competition from large e-commerce companies, it's clear that for the small high street business adapting to combine the physical and digital experience for customers is more than essential. Clearly, reliable internet is now critical.
If you are ready for your business to be part of the full-fibre revolution, contact Triangle on sales@trianglenetworks.co.uk. If FTTP is not yet in your area, then Triangle can register your interest and let you know when this is available.