Federation of Small Business say growth of small enterprises in rural areas is being hindered by lack of access to superfast broadband
Small enterprises in rural areas are being held back by the lack of access to superfast broadband, according to a survey carried out by the Federation of Small Business (FSB).
A meagre 16% of small businesses in the rural UK have access to superfast broadband, with 14% of those citing this as the key inhibitor to growth in a world where fast and reliable internet is essential.
And with the exponential advancement of technology making online access more and more relevant, small businesses risk being left behind and struggling to keep up.
During the summer, a FSB report revealed that 45,000 companies are still on dial-up, leading to the small business organization to deem the £1bn government initiative to make superfast broadband available to 95% of the population by 2017 inadequate. The organization has called for minimum broadband speeds of 10 Megabits to companies in all locations by 2018-19.
FSB chairman Mike Cherry warned the issue “threatens the expansion of the £400bn rural economy”, adding:
“This research paints a worrying picture of a divided business broadband landscape in the UK, and unless addressed highlights a clear obstacle to growth.
“A reliable connection is now viewed as a key business requirement by 94% of small UK businesses.”
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