Tech City firms "waiting a year" for broadband connections
By Stewart Mitchell
Posted on 28 Nov 2012 at 10:39
An MP has criticised the "incredible" length of time companies in Tech City have to wait to get connected to fast enough broadband.
The Shoreditch area is held up by government as a UK rival to Silicon Valley, but companies could have to wait up to a year for improved connections that are critical to setting up operations.
According to Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, delays on faster broadband installations are putting businesses and jobs at risk.
"I was there a week ago and a number of companies were saying that they were having problems getting connected," Hillier told PC Pro.
It's incredible that one of the main elements of their infrastructure is taking such a long time. A year? What sort of nonsense is that?
"It's the time it takes getting the connection into the office and when start-ups are growing they need the technology to do their jobs – it's one of the biggest issues that come up from people I speak to."
Hillier cited the case of one Tech City company, Moo.com, that had to wait for a year for a connection in new premises and had to rely on old links in the meantime.
We've asked Moo.com for a comment on which supplier was to blame and have yet to hear back from the company, but, according to Hillier, telecoms firms are providing poor customer service in the area at a time when growth is paramount.
"Old warehouses can't be geared up by landlords in advance because it's a big cost," she said. "It's a high cost for businesses to bear and I am hearing repeatedly from businesses locally that the attitude of the telecoms providers is not good customer service. They're not in any hurry to speed things along.
"These companies are the lifeblood and are creating jobs and it's incredible that one of the main elements of their infrastructure is taking such a long time. A year? What sort of nonsense is that?"
Hillier said she was asking officials to see if they could "strong arm" the telecoms companies into improving service, with both local jobs and the UK's tech economy at risk.
"We're internationally competitive, and businesses are coming from overseas but if you're, say, Korean and see all these problems you're probably not going to hang around, you'll go somewhere else – the telecoms companies have to be answerable."
Officials "aware" of issue
The Tech City Investment Organisation said it knows there is a problem and is pushing suppliers to be more proactive.
"We're aware of concerns about broadband provision and take every opportunity to encourage suppliers to meet demand in the cluster," said a spokesperson for Tech City Investment Organisation.
"The government recently announced £20m funding to make London a super-connected city and is working with the Greater London Authority to ensure that the needs of Tech City entrepreneurs and companies are reflected in their plans for the use of that funding."
not exactly surprising...
dealing with the big telcos is not great for the man in the street, so dealing with them for firms when i was in work seemed even more fraught...
They used to switch provider only for them to be better for a while, and then go downhill like a cliff.
By bouncy1 on 29 Nov 2012 
not exactly surprising...
dealing with the big telcos is not great for the man in the street, so dealing with them for firms when i was in work seemed even more fraught...
They used to switch provider only for them to be better for a while, and then go downhill like a cliff.
By bouncy1 on 29 Nov 2012
Why not buy from ISP's like everybody else?
Quote : "The government recently announced £20m funding to make London a super-connected city and is working with the Greater London Authority to ensure that the needs of Tech City entrepreneurs and companies are reflected in their plans for the use of that funding."
Well there's your problem.
Normally Houses/Businesses deal directly with the ISP providing the Service (BT/Virgin etc.)
Yet these companies seem to be asking the "Tech City Investment Organisation" (scammers) to then ask the Government (scammers) to provide a connection, as part of a £20M (wow, so huge, for all of London) so-called 'Investment Funding' (it takes years - ie. scam).
Can you see the difference?
They may have more success if they cut out the middle men (scammers) and go direct to the ISP's, just like everybody else?
Then they would only have to wait for 6 weeks.....
Normally a new 'Tech City' would set bells ringing at ISP's to get in there quick and sell nice fast connections, but with this Part-Government-Funding fiasco, they won't bother, but simply wait for the funding (which will take YEARS to filter through) to boost their profits a tiny bit, meanwhile the companies are having to use 3G or something, just to have some internet.
If that wasn't plainly obvious to all, then there is a serious 'Lack of IQ' issue in the UK, and they will get the internet they deserve. Or the Government we deserve.
By Wilbert3 on 30 Nov 2012
This project has no scope for success. It is doom to fail unless there is real guidance.
There should not be any issues with getting fast BB to any of the buildings, if there is real plans in place for investment. These companies complaining have they shows there long term plans. So the Service providers can back them with the millions on pounds in infrastructure built
By machan52 on 2 Dec 2012
This area must already have the infrastructure in the street. So it should not be a problem getting a building connected. What may be a problem is if the building is not internally connected up to distribute the services. That should not be the service provider remit, but the owner of the building
By machan52 on 2 Dec 2012
This area must already have the infrastructure in the street. So it should not be a problem getting a building connected. What may be a problem is if the building is not internally connected up to distribute the services. That should not be the service provider remit, but the owner of the building
By machan52 on 2 Dec 2012
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