Digital connectivity is essential for economic growth. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough is a hugely diverse area with a rich mix of cities, market towns and rural areas, which presents both challenges and opportunities in achieving the leading edge digital infrastructure needed for businesses to thrive.
Whilst the delivery of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority’s digital connectivity infrastructure strategy involves a complex combination of technology, civil engineering and investment, the overarching objectives are about community, connecting people and places, and supporting businesses to meet their full potential.
We want all businesses to have access to the leading-edge digital connectivity needed to help them succeed and to deliver sustainable growth, so we hope you find the information and signposting on this page helpful.
Digital Switchover for businesses
Is your business ready for the Digital Switchover?
The UK-wide Digital Switchover is underway and will affect numerous devices within businesses – from telephone lines to lifts, alarms and payment machines. Connecting Cambridgeshire, in partnership with FarrPoint, hosted several free informational events and webinars to help businesses adapt to the switchover, ensuring a smooth transition. These sessions also covered what the 2G and 3G switch-offs might mean to you.
Telecoms providers (like BT, Virgin Media, Sky & TalkTalk) are decommissioning their analogue services and are moving to fully digital networks across the whole of the UK. This means that analogue phone lines in residential and business premises are being replaced by digital equivalents. For businesses, this transition may mean you need to upgrade existing systems such as telephone lines, alarms, lift alarms and payment machines.
The transition has already started and is set to be fully completed by January 2027. For most SMEs and non-complex telephony cases, this deadline may be sooner.
If you missed one of the webinars we ran in partnership with digital technology consultancy FarrPoint, watch a recording on our Preparing your Business for the Digtal Switchover page and download our practical guide to the Digital Switchover for businesses in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to help you take the correct steps at the right time.
What does the Digital Switchover mean for businesses?
All businesses need to upgrade their telecoms systems. Moving to a full fibre broadband network and/or a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system is essential – otherwise, you risk losing the ability to communicate with your customers.
Any businesses with or responsible for premises need to look at the physical systems in place, such as emergency lift lines and fire or alarm systems, as they either won’t work at all or won’t work consistently on a new internet protocol (IP) network.
The main risk for health and social care businesses is that telecare services will be affected and require upgrading and/or adapting to fit the new technology. This is the biggest risk, as there has already been an instance following a fibre upgrade occurring where a resident died as their Care Line product wasn’t reconnected.
All of these problems will be further complicated by the closure of the 3G mobile network, so it’s a perfect storm of change.
To adapt to these infrastructure and technology changes, it’s essential that businesses become digitally included and promote digital inclusivity. Full fibre is being rolled out by Openreach and Virgin Media O2 as well as by many smaller broadband suppliers, who can all provide businesses with fast, reliable, gigabit-capable connectivity – meaning no slow-down to connectivity, regardless of the number of devices or time of day.
If you have questions or want to know more about how to become a digitally included business – or would like to share information to help others about how your business has already digitalised and is preparing for the digital switchover – we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us via email on contact@connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk and quote ‘Digital Inclusion – Business’ in the subject line or find out more on the Digital Phone Switchover website.
Broadband
Fast, reliable internet connections are vital for economic growth because it means businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough can thrive and compete in a global world.
Increasing numbers of people work flexibly from home and better broadband means they can keep connected without having to spend time and money travelling.
Across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, fewer than 60% of premises could get superfast broadband services up to 24Mbps in 2011. Our superfast broadband rollout project, combined with commercial provision, has now brought superfast access to well over 98% of premises – above the national average – with plans to reach over 99% coverage.
Check the Home Broadband Networks guide for advice for employees on how to maximise broadband speeds and capacity while working from home.
Find out if your business can upgrade to faster broadband by using our postcode checker and following the advice on our getting better broadband page.
Mobile
We are all more reliant on phone networks and internet services to stay in touch now.
It’s vital that people can keep connected when being asked to work from home or work remotely. But getting fast, reliable internet access can be a challenge – particularly when several people want to go online at the same time.
Connecting Cambridgeshire, the digital connectivity programme led by Cambridgeshire County Council, is working with telecoms operators to improve broadband and mobile coverage across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Our Enabling Digital Delivery service is supporting telecoms operators working on critical broadband and mobile networks, and can help to liaise with planners and streetworks.
Ofcom has tips for consumers to stay connected and information about how to improve indoor coverage and how to set up Wifi calling.
Growth Hub Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
The CPCA Growth Hub has free resources, support and advice for businesses in the region. It is funded by the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and is here to connect your business to the help, support, information and funding that you need to thrive and grow.
They also deliver strategic support programmes and courses that empower business leaders to develop their resilience, productivity, leadership and capacity and capability to grow.
Covering Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, West Norfolk, West Suffolk, North Hertfordshire, South Holland, South Kesteven and Uttlesford in Essex, their team of dedicated, expert professionals are here to help your business be the best it can be.
Business & IP Centre Cambridgeshire & Peterborough
Are you running or looking to start up a business? The Business & IP Centre (BIPC) Cambridgeshire & Peterborough provides free and low-cost business support and advice to start up business owners, entrepreneurs, and inventors like you.
They run workshops and events, offer one-to-one business support, and run an online programme of support.
East Cambridgeshire Business
East Cambridgeshire District Council offers support and advice for businesses including skills, start-ups, SMEs and more. Sign up to their Business mailing list and learn more.
Fenland for Business
Fenland for Business offers impartial advice and support for your business, and the Fenland District Council Investment in Business Programme makes grants of between £5,000 and £75,000 available to businesses to help them grow and increase employment opportunities in Fenland.
Invest in Huntingdonshire
Invest in Huntingdonshire is the Economic Development Team for Huntingdonshire District Council. Their role is to support inward investment in the region and help companies looking to grow their businesses there to thrive. They aim to provide a truly integrated, high-quality insight and guidance service that the business community needs to enable them to prosper in Huntingdonshire. Find out more and subscribe to the Huntingdonshire Business Newsletter via their website.
South Cambs Business Support & Development
South Cambridgeshire District Council is committed to supporting local businesses. Their Business Engagement Officers work with colleagues across the council and the service is completely free to use. Whatever your requirements, they can help you find the information and support you need to help you and your business succeed. Sign up for business support, news and information on the South Cambs website.
Other useful links
- National Cyber Security Centre – Cyber Aware strategies to protect yourself online at this time.
- BT’s Small Business Support Scheme – BT announced its largest-ever commitment to Britain’s 5.8 million small businesses by launching the Small Business Support Scheme – introducing a range of new measures to help small business boost their connectivity, cash flow and confidence.
- Free digital mentorship for your business – Visa and Google UK, have joined forces with a number of other organisations to offer free support to small businesses in relation to digital skills in the form of mentoring, online courses, workshops and content.
- Is your business ready for the Digital Switchover? Find out a little bit more about the risks and opportunities.
If you need further advice on digital connectivity for your business please contact the Connecting Cambridgeshire team by email contact@connectingcambridgeshire.co.uk stating your address, postcode, and situation.
