Boxx Communications Ltd

Simplifying telecommunications for businesses large and small!

Connectivity

How to grow your business in 2020?

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As a nation, the UK is increasingly dependent on digital technologies and this is only set to rise as we move through this new decade.

We’ve all felt frustrated when the internet grinds to a halt or when the download estimate for a large file is minutes – even hours – instead of seconds.

These days anyone would be annoyed at having to save files to a USB stick (how quickly things become out-dated?!) because the internet connection isn’t up-to-scratch.

These frustrations may seem small in isolation but when you consider the effect they have on business; you would be naïve to think they are just part and parcel of modern day working.

In fact, the impact they can have on productivity is significant, which in turn reduces cost effectiveness and ultimately a business’ bottom line.

Be forward-thinking…

With cloud-based applications becoming mainstream for businesses of all sizes and with companies from every sector, the length and breadth of the UK, needing to migrate to internet delivered telephony solutions over the coming years, never has there been such an urgent need for digital connectivity that is truly fit for purpose.

Unlock your business potential…

As we sit on the brink of this digital revolution, with internet connectivity now the most critical business tool, those ‘making-do’ with an incompetent service or not truly understanding the potential a robust connection brings, is holding back more than many businesses realise.

Any business looking to grown in 2020 and beyond, NEEDS access to the best possible internet-based services, in order to grow.

Direct Internet Access (DIA) is a term widely used, often not understood, yet crucial for businesses wanting to maximise efficiencies and opportunities.

What is Direct Internet Access?

Ultimately, DIA is an umbrella term for a variety of business-grade internet services, common in the fact that they often offer uncontended and symmetrical bandwidth, which means that there is no line sharing and upload speed is the same as download speed.

Crucially, this allows multiple users to be doing multiple tasks at the same time, which is vital when utilising cloud-based storage, unified comms tools and other online software.

Robust digital infrastructure is a necessity…

Every company will have different objectives and ambitions and Direct Internet Access can be delivered in a variety of ways (including GEA, GPON, EoFTTC, FTTP, Leased Line) to accommodate these priorities, with speeds up to 1 Gigabit available in many UK cities.

The features and benefits of DIA can be explored further on our DIA page and to understand exactly what each of the services offers, including explanations of the (sometimes confusing) terminology, check out our download below.

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DIRECT INTERNET ACCESS (DIA) - GLOSSARY

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Connecting MK in 2020

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2019 was a great year for Boxx and for 2020 we have even bigger plans…

Our focus for this year is two-pronged.

  • To support businesses migrating from traditional to IP telephony in MK, ahead of the planned 2025 ISDN switch off.
  • Improving internet connectivity for Milton Keynes businesses utilising the new gigabit speed CityFibre infrastructure.

Telephony Migration

With many years’ experience in providing telephony solutions nationwide, we’ve been at the forefront of BT Openreach’s plans to replace the use of analogue telephony in favour of IP (i.e. voice solutions delivered via Internet Protocol).

We’ve have made it our mission to educate businesses about the options available, from VoIP (Voice over IP) to SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), which can bring many benefits, including cheaper calls, improved call handling, higher call quality and greater resilience.

As a leading supplier of telephony in and around our hometown of Milton Keynes, where better to start than in the local community?

Milton Keynes has a thriving business economy with expansive growth plans ahead, so it is imperative that organisations both large and small are not only aware of the upcoming changes to the telephony landscape, but also equipped to migrate in a way that best suits their business.

Providing VoIP to Milton Keynes Businesses

MK Gallery are just one of a portfolio of Milton Keynes organisations for whom we have not only implemented VoIP migration, but also utilised technology to meet their overall business objectives.

Kate Chadwick – Deputy Director (MK Gallery) quotes…

Our partnership with Boxx began with the provision of connectivity, but our relationship quickly developed, and it soon became clear that they genuinely wanted to enable us to deliver on our own business goals. As we neared a critical project deadline, the grand opening of the new MK Gallery, Boxx proactively guided us, and liaised seamlessly with our outsourced IT Partner to achieve the implementation of numerous business-critical telephony & connectivity projects in a timely manner. In addition to championing us through this milestone launch period, Boxx exceeded our expectations and have become advocates of MK Gallery and we have enjoyed working with them in positioning our new gallery firmly on the MK map.”

Delivering the Fastest Internet in Milton Keynes

Supplying Direct Internet Access connectivity solutions to UK businesses has also been an established key offering from boxx but the arrival of CityFibre infrastructure (the UK’s largest alternative provider of wholesale fibre) to Milton Keynes is enabling MK businesses to future-proof from the ground up.

With an ever-increasing dependency on digital technologies and the rise of cloud-based services, businesses are able to realise productivity improvements and increase efficiencies when full fibre connectivity is deployed in Gigabit Cities, like Milton Keynes.

We recently delivered an impressive 5 Gigabit internet solution to Milton Keynes University Hospital over the CityFibre network. Not only was this a landmark delivery for us, the solution was also a record-breaking offering from CityFibre too, clearly demonstrating our ability to work strategically with specific business objectives in mind and ‘thinking outside the boxx’ in terms of how to deliver the solutions required to achieve them.

Connecting MK

If you’re looking for faster, more resilient internet connectivity in Milton Keynes, we’d love to help you understand how you can utilise telecommunications to work more strategically to achieve business growth.

To learn more about how we’re Connecting MK, just get in touch.

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DOWNLOAD OUR CREDENTIALS

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Providing Wi-Fi & Connecting MK

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This time last week we were preparing for the MK Job Show – The latest in a series of successful events, supporting growth, training opportunities, internships, and creating a focus for current jobs and careers in and around the MK area.

On 13th & 14th September we were excited to provide dual purpose at this prestigious local event…

Firstly, we were thrilled to host the Boxx Business Hub – a place for exhibitors and dynamic business focussed individuals, to meet other like-minded professionals, at our daily networking sessions, in addition to providing flexible working facilities for exhibitors.

Here we became acquainted, connected and collaborated with, many wonderful business people from our region including Vodafone, SHI International, Ingram Micro, MK Community Foundation, Popworld Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes College, 123 Internet, MK:FM, Sikla UK, Royal Navy, All Things Business UK, British Army, Ricoh UK, YMCA and many more.

The two days provided opportunities for each of these organisations to complement their recruitment-drive activities with some value-adding networking and strategic relationship building, all in great company and part of the mission to be #ConnectingMK!!

Equally importantly, we were also proud to be powering the event’s connectivity and supplying FREE Wi-Fi to fellow exhibitors on behalf of the forward-thinking organisers at MK Job Show. Conscious that in addition to the excellent catering, provided by Woburn Coffee House and valuable marketing opportunities they offer to companies exhibiting via local radio and free newspapers, reliable internet access is now considered business critical for exhibitors at such events.

Our industry-leading, resilient, yet discrete technology was well suited to the event, boosting Wi-Fi connectivity to every corner of the Middleton Hall, Centre MK venue.

It was a fantastic way to showcase how we can help businesses increase the reach of their own internet connectivity, whether that be driven by desire to improve productivity of their workforce or to enhance their visitor experience.

The powerful cloud management software enabled us to manage users, maintain security and deliver reliable service, all on-site. Another great demonstration of how we can help businesses stay connected!

The success of this event was complimented by the launch of our latest offer… A FREE Wi-Fi survey to businesses in and around Milton Keynes. Using the latest Ekahau tools, our technical engineers can provide highly accurate Wi-Fi diagnostics to bespoke design, optimise and/or troubleshoot your Wi-Fi networks, so you can be sure your business is operating at it’s very best!

To take advantage, simply register your interest and we’ll be in touch to discuss further/arrange a suitable time.

Simplifying connectivity for businesses large and small!

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5G – Who’s Leading The Race?

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5G continues to be a major talking point in the technology world and with the public launch of 5G getting ever closer in the UK, it’s a race between providers to be the first widespread 5G network, whilst it’s also a race across the globe to have the first 5G capable phone.

Both Huawei and OnePlus are ahead of the pack in terms of creating a 5G capable phone – especially now that Huawei have announced that they will be releasing a phone in the first half of 2019!

This hasn’t come as shocking news to the mobile industry as Huawei have tended to be the first company to release innovative features as of recently; most notably, the in-screen fingerprint sensors.

However, many may be thinking ‘What about Apple?’

It’s almost guaranteed that we won’t see a 5G capable iPhone until at least the second half of 2020. But this is something that we’ve come to expect from Apple. The first iPhone launched without the capability of using 3G and 4G didn’t arrive until the iPhone 5.

The ‘wait and see’ strategy has worked for them in the past but that was because prices we’re lower, people more frequently upgraded their phones and there were less alternatives to the iPhone compared to now.

Apple’s silence on the topic have left some worried and now that the mobile industry has grown so much, Apple need to come up with something game-changing. If they don’t, what’s stopping people from moving on?

When it comes to providers, EE are the leading name in the UK. They’ve already released multiple 5G sites across London and are planning to have 16 5G cities in the UK by the end of 2019.

5G - EE 16 Cities

This will be a great achievement for EE, but they need to make sure that the roll-out of 5G is an evolution, not a revolution.

There are still many areas of the UK that have inconsistent or no 4G, plus we still don’t have the technology to utilise 5G yet.

Over half of EE’s customers have iPhones, so it will leave customers with a choice of 5G or loyalty to their handset choice and, whilst there are many alternative mobiles, 5G is unlikely to sway people’s vote unless they live in one of the 16 cities.

What is certain, is that 5G is a very exciting development and could open new doors in technology. If you want to learn more about how technology advancements could help your business, get in touch!

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Project Loon – The future of internet connectivity?

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Project Loon - The future of internet connectivity?In the UK, we have a robust broadband connectivity network that allows most of us in the country to access the internet at any time.

However, you may be surprised to hear that we are part of just a slight majority when it comes to internet connectivity. Reports show that only 55% of the world’s population has access to the internet as of June 2018 – meaning that well over 3 billion people are unable to connect to the world wide web!

Reaching those who are not yet connected is challenging for many different reasons, such as, a lack of funding, poor infrastructure or a remote location.

In 2011, Google X stepped in and began testing a system dubbed ‘Project Loon’. The idea behind it was to transmit an internet connection down to those who need it via a mini-satellite. The original prototype was made up of a weather balloon and a collection of off-the-shelf radio parts.

By 2013, Project Loon was an official Google Project, and the balloon technology had developed via the help of vigorous testing in New Zealand under stratospheric temperatures.

But how does it work…?

The technology developed can be broken up into three main parts:

1) Antennas

They transmit connectivity obtained from ground stations down to any LTE capable phone, much like the way a mobile network transmits signal.

2) Charging Equipment

A row of solar panels power the satellite when sunlight is present and an additional battery acts as a backup during the night.

3) Flight Capsule

This contains the electronics commanding the unit and the navigation system, which uses automated algorithms and predictive models on wind speeds and directions. This is continuously monitored by someone on the ground.

The balloons themselves are made from sheets of polyethylene – the material used to make some shopping bags – and contain helium. When fully inflated, they stand 39ft tall and 49ft wide and can travel for around 100 days.

Taking Flight…

Project Loon launch in Brazil

The first to connect to one of the balloons were a family in Canterbury, New Zealand in 2013 and they connected via an internet antenna attached to their house.

The first LTE connection was made in 2014 by a school in Campo Maior, Brazil. It was the first time they had ever connected to the world wide web.

These balloons have since been used multiple times to provide internet coverage after natural disasters. In 2017, Project Loon teamed up with the FCC to provide connectivity to around 200,000 people in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.

The Future…

As of July 2018, Project Loon graduated from Google X and has now become a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. It is clear that Project Loon now plays a massive role in supporting humanitarian issues but this new technology could become commercially beneficial in the future too.

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Anti-Bullying Week 2018 – How to protect yourself and others online

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Anti-Bullying Week 2018 - How to protect yourself and others onlineThe week commencing 12th November 2018 marks the beginning of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week, the theme of which is ‘Choose Respect’.

The idea behind this theme is to show that bullying is a behavioural choice. From there, we can encourage people of all ages to be respectful instead of hurtful.

One of the biggest types of bullying in modern society is cyberbullying. It is almost commonplace with the new type of behaviours that have formed online, such as ‘trolling’ and ‘stan’ cultures.

Nowadays, it is very easy for someone to post hurtful content online without any repercussions because they can do so anonymously. It can also come from any person with access the internet at any time of the day – meaning that it can be difficult for people to escape online harassment.

However, modern technology can now help keep people away from harmful content, so we’re going to take you through some ways that you can protect yourself, your children or others. Whether it be routers, software or handsets, many technologies now often include screen time limits or application restriction features. Most notably, Apple’s iOS 12 now has a new Screen Time function which encompasses these elements.

Settings like this allow you to limit how much time is spent on devices and how much time is spent using individual apps. This is a great way to manage how much media you (or your children) are creating or exposed to.

Additionally, the content that is displayed when accessing the internet can also be restricted often using age ratings or by banning ‘explicit’ content.

If you have a child whom you feel is a victim of cyberbullying or is bullying others, you can limit their internet access with parental controls. This is a great way of making sure that either a person or device within your household can’t access the internet unsupervised.

It is great to see that businesses are taking into consideration some of the dangers of the internet and placing controllable limits on their products; take a look at the features your router and/or smartphone offers – it could all lead to a reduction in cyberbullying.

In the meantime, if there is anyone you know that may be being bullied, always remember to reach out and support them. Also, if you have noticed any online bullying, be sure to report it as most sites have policies against a cyberbullying.

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