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Top tips to improve your broadband speed

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Top tips to improve your broadband speed

A common misconception is that the only things that affect your broadband speed are the provider and the deal you have signed up to.

In reality, many things can affect the speed you are getting but the good thing is that many of them are in your control and can be easily fixed.

Ofcom has produced some hints and tips on how to get the best out of your broadband, so here are our top picks below.

  • If your broadband comes into your premises via a phone line, then how far you are from the local exchange will affect the maximum speeds you can get, as speeds over traditional copper wires slow the further from the exchange they are. While you can make use of our other tips to improve matters, if you’re a long way from your local exchange you may be better off getting broadband via cable, if that is available in your area.

  • Installing microfilters in all of your home phone sockets, even those just used for phones, will enable your broadband to work over the same line as your telephone service, and help you get the most out of your broadband.

  • Remember that speeds quoted by providers are generally a maximum, not a guarantee. The internet is also like a motorway, in that it slows the greater the volume of traffic on it, so don’t expect to always reach your quoted speed if logging on at peak times. If you get your broadband over a wifi connection, the closer your computer is to the router the better it will perform.

  • Password-protect your wifi, not only for security, but to stop anyone else piggybacking on your connection and slowing it down.

  • Your computer can also slow your broadband experience, so ensure you have the latest version of whatever browser you used downloaded, and clear your cache regularly to keep processing times as low as they can be.

  • Having large number of windows or tabs open can also slow everything down, so try to just have open what you absolutely need.

  • If you’ve tried all of the above and are still having issues, consider connecting directly to the internet via cable, ideally using a faster ethernet cable instead of a USB one.

Trying combinations of the tips above should ensure you’re getting the best speeds possible for your line,
but you can always speak to your provider if you need any additional advice.

Top Tips to Reduce Data Hacking

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Top Tips to Reduce Data Hacking

British businesses have paid out more than £878,000 over the last three years due to hackers successfully accessing cardholder data.

The figures from UK payment processor Worldpay, based on a survey of their customers between 2011 and 2013, show that small businesses are by far the worst casualties, making up 61 per cent of reported cases.

They also show that some industries suffered the effects of data hacking far more than others.

According to the Worldpay research, businesses in the electrical, hardware, and automotive industries have had more card data security breaches than any other, followed by pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and clothing retailers.

The payouts, which go to the third parties who forensically investigate the fraud and make any repairs, is symptomatic of a wider fraud problem facing both businesses and consumers.

World pay’s data shows that the number of credit and debit cards at risk from security breaches in the UK has grown by a staggering 1518 per cent since 2012, from under 200,000 cards to more than three million in 2013. The company believes that at least 6.57 million cards have been put at risk over the past three years.

World pay’s managing director Dave Hobday said: “Card payments and online purchases are becoming the norm as we move towards a cashless society, but with this comes an increasing degree of risk.”

While most large companies are strengthening their safety measures, there’s been only a marginal improvement amongst small businesses. There can be no guarantees that any system is hack-proof, Worldpay offers four best practice tips:

1) Make sure that you meet the industry for keeping card data secure

2) Take security seriously and learn how you store and sent card data this is critical for your business

3) If you’re not an expert in online payments, consider hiring one to advise you

4) Reduce your risk by not storing any data you don’t need to

Mr Hobday added: “Fraudsters go after low-hanging fruit. Small businesses are easy prey, so it’s a real worry so many small businesses still don’t see the value in compliance. If we want to see genuine change, it’s important we support small business owners.”

A data breach can be financially crippling just the investigation alone can cost thousands of pounds, not to mention fines and loss of reputation. Knowing the risks and practising good security will protect you and your customers in the long term and that has to be a good thing.

Five areas of the UK gearing up for dialling code changes in October 2014

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Five areas of the UK gearing up for dialling code changes in October 2014

People in five parts of the UK will soon need to include the area code for the first time when they dial a local number from a landline.

Codes can currently be omitted from local landline calls, but this has meant Ofcom is unable to release new local numbers beginning with a zero or one.

The new move, which will take effect from October 1 this year, is designed to free up telephone numbers in areas where supplies are running low.

The change affects five dialling code areas:

– Aberdeen (01224): Includes Aberdeen & the area to the west, including towns such as Westhill.

– Bradford (01274): Includes Bradford & the surrounding areas such as Baildon, Bingley, Cleckheaton & Shipley.

– Brighton (01273): Includes Brighton & Hove, as well as places such as Lewes, Newhaven, Peacehaven & Southwick.

– Middlesbrough (01642): Includes Middlesbrough & surrounding places such as Stockton, Redcar, Stokesley & Yarm.

– Milton Keynes (01908): Includes Woburn Sands, Newport Pagnell, Stony Stratford & Wolverton.

Ofcom said the spiralling numbers of telecoms companies over the past ten years, while good for competition and cheaper bills, had also led to increased pressure on the supply of numbers in these five areas. This new move means it can allocate numbers starting with zero or one, without exchanges treating them as mobile or directory inquiries services and failing to connect them, or connecting them to the wrong number.

The move follows a similar successful change in Bournemouth in November 2012, where the process ran smoothly. Going into the change, Ofcom research showed that 81 per cent of local residents were aware of it, and 94 per cent said they were not concerned by it.

Now, as then, Ofcom will use telecoms companies, local media, local councils and business groups to ensure the local community is aware of the changes.

Will the code change doesn’t officially take place until October, local residents can start using it now to get into the habit before the switchover. From October, if a local number in one of these areas is dialled without an area code, the user will hear a free message asking them to redial.

An Ofcom spokesman said: “We can create more numbers without changing anybody’s existing phone number. This is important for us, as we know that number changes are costly and inconvenient for consumers and businesses.”

Asking landline callers to use the code locally is intended to safeguard the future supply of new landline numbers and avoid the need for more disruptive measures, such as changing existing phone numbers. The supply of new landline numbers also ensures that consumers and businesses continue to enjoy the widest choice of telecoms providers.

New world record set for broadband speed over copper wires

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New world record set for broadband speed over copper wires

A new broadband speed world record has been set using traditional copper telephone wires.

Bell Labs, the research and development arm of global telecoms giants Alcatel-Lucent, set a new speed of 10 gigabits-per-second (gbps) using a prototype technology it calls XG-FAST. The prototype also demonstrated how existing copper access networks can be used to deliver 1Gbps symmetrical ultra-broadband access services.

Achieving 1 Gbps ‘symmetrical’ services where bandwidth can be split to provide simultaneous upload and download speeds of 1 Gbps is a major breakthrough for copper broadband, as it will potentially enable operators to provide internet connection speeds that are comparable with fibre optic services.

This will have a major business benefit in locations where it is not physically, economically or aesthetically viable to lay new fibre cables all the way into residences, as it could massively extend the life of existing copper line networks. Instead, fibre can be brought to the curbside, wall or
basement of a building and the existing copper network used for the final few metres, significantly reducing costs.

XG-FAST is the successor to the G.fast technology which is currently being ratified by the International Telecommunication Union.

When this new broadband standard becomes available in 2015, G.fast will use a frequency range for data transmission of 106 MHz, giving broadband speeds up to 500 Mbps over a distance of 100 metres.

In contrast, XG-FAST uses an increased frequency range up to 500 MHz to achieve higher speeds but over shorter distances.

Bell Labs achieved 1 Gbps symmetrical over 70 metres, or 230 feet, on a single copper pair.  Ten Gbps was achieved over a distance of 30 metres, or 100 feet, by using two pairs of lines in a technique known as bonding. Both tests used standard copper cable provided by a European operator.

Marcus Weldon, President of Bell Labs, said: “Our constant aim is to push the limits of what is possible to invent the future, with breakthroughs that are 10 times better than are possible today. Our demonstration of 10 Gbps over copper is a prime example: by pushing broadband technology to its limits, operators can determine how they could deliver gigabit services over their existing networks, ensuring the availability of ultra-broadband access as widely and as economically as possible.”

Commenting on the achievement, President of Alcatel-Lucenta’s Fixed Networks business said: “The Bell Labs speed record is an amazing achievement, but crucially in addition they have identified a new benchmark for real-world applications for ultra-broadband fixed access. XG-FAST can help operators accelerate FTTH deployments, taking fibre very close to customers without the major expense and delays associated with entering every home.”

By making 1 gigabit symmetrical services over copper a real possibility, Bell Labs is offering the telecommunications industry a new way to ensure no customer is left behind when it comes to ultra-broadband access.

Small Business Saturday 2014 launched

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Small Business Saturday 2014 launched

A campaign to promote awareness and use of small businesses has launched for 2014 after the success of the inaugural event last year.

Small Business Saturday UK exists to highlight the success of small companies and encourage consumers to ‘shop local’ and support the independent shops and traders in their area.

Non-political and non-commercial, the grassroots movement publicises the first Saturday in December each year as Small Business Saturday this year is the 6th but it aims to have a lasting impact throughout the year as it builds awareness and shares successes.

The first event, in 2013, was a runaway success, with polling in the 24 hours afterwards by American Express, which is behind the movement starting in the US and also backs the UK version, showing that over £460 million was spent in small businesses on the day, with 48 per cent of UK consumers being aware of what was happening and 57 per cent shopping at a local, independently owned business.

Forty per cent of all local authorities supported the campaign, and on Small Business Saturday itself there were over 1.5 million
Facebook views of campaign material, and the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK was in the top three UK trends on Twitter all day.

Matthew Hancock, Minister for Skills and Enterprise, said: “Last year’s Small Business Saturday showed the warmth of feeling people have toward the small companies and shops in their community. It’s my hope that this year will be even more successful as people take the opportunity to support these vital elements of our economy.”

As part of the campaign’s ultimate goal of raising awareness of small businesses and what they bring to the community, it will once again be featuring one small business a day across its social medial channels for the 100 days leading up to December 6th.

The nominees last year attended a Downing Street event hosted by George Osborne, the Chancellor, as well as being featured by the campaign and in local press.

In their role as championing small businesses, Small Business Saturday stresses that it supports all whether they are a family business, local shop, online business, wholesaler or small manufacturer.

Isabel Oswell, head of business and research audiences at the British Library where this year’s launch was held, told atchpro.com: “We’re delighted to be supporting Small Business Saturday in the UK. SMEs are the lifeblood of the economy and it’s important to encourage people to support their local independent businesses.”

At the Centre we’re passionate about helping people to launch and grow their business, with free access to essential information, as well as practical workshops and advice. We’ll be encouraging all of our users to make the most of this year’s Small Business Saturday.

The Small Business Saturday UK initiative has attracted the support of key leading business organisations including the Federation of Small Businesses, Association of City and Town Management, Association of Convenience Stores, Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association and Ingenious Britain.

Small Business Bill included in Queen’s Speech for the first time

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Small Business Bill included in Queen's Speech for the first time

A Small Business Bill was included in the Queen’s Speech for the first time this year, and contains a raft of measures aimed at helping smaller enterprises compete on a level playing field with bigger firms.

It is hoped the bill, when introduced into law, will help build a stronger economy by supporting small businesses to grow and ensure they are not disadvantaged by those who do not asher to the rules.

Many of the proposals are aimed at cutting red tape and making it easier for smaller operations to access finance.

A key part of the new bill aims to increase the availability and sources of finance for small companies, as well as giving smaller firms better access to the £230 billion of Public Procurement Contracts awarded each year.

It also aims to improve and make payment practices between businesses and their customers more transparent, meaning larger companies will be under greater pressure to pay smaller ones more promptly for work they do for them.

There is also a pledge to regularly review legislation affecting small businesses to ensure it remains relevant and effective, and to cut any that does not meet this standard.

Additionally, the Government has pledged to tackle minimum wage and zero hours contracts abuses. This will include measures to prevent firms stopping people on zero hours contracts working for other companies.

The bill will also close the custom of public sector staff being able to keep big redundancy pay-offs when they are re-employed by the same sector within a short space of time.

Childcare regulations are also to be made more flexible to meet the needs of working families, and pub landlords who are tied to a pub-owning company given a fairer deal, while it will also be easier for small businesses who want to expand overseas.

Giving his reaction to Business Matter magazine, John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said: “Businesses across Britain will be relieved to see that the government has opted for a streamlined legislative programme, meaning ministers can devote more time to delivering the best possible environment for economic growth and enterprise. Businesses hold governments accountable not for how many bills they pass, but for what they actually deliver.”

If the legislation announced in the Queen’s Speech means better infrastructure, a better environment for growing companies, and improved access to finance, then businesses will give ministers the credit they deserve. Action, not words and bills, is what matters for business. The bill is expected to be passed into law before the General Election next year, although this is not guaranteed.

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