Phone-based meetings platform PowWowNow has led delivery of a letter to the government which demands full-fibre broadband for the nation to prevent poor connectivity from disproportionately impacting SMEs’ recovery post-Covid.
The letter, which is signed by a further 14 SMEs calls on the UK Government to commit to ensuring 100% of the nation has accessibility to full-fibre ultrafast broadband as part of its forthcoming National Infrastructure Strategy.
Signatories include music rights IoT start-up Audoo, digital fundraising start-up Tap Simple, and firms from the property, retail and law sectors.
The letter argues that internet connectivity is a critical utility to almost every sector and industry.
They claim the UK’s copper-based networks risk slower connections, which could disproportionately impact SMEs.
The letter calls for “tangible commitment from the Government” to invest in and improve the nation’s broadband network, so to prevent rural areas from being forgotten.
It asks the Government to provide funding for infrastructural improvements in areas where a commercial case cannot be found.
Andrew Johnson, Managing Director of PowWowNow, said: “The pandemic has accelerated a complete transformation in the way the majority of us work, with flexible and remote working set to become the norm even post-Covid.
“As such, businesses will need to adapt, and it will be crucial that UK SMEs have the connectivity they need to remain productive. We are therefore asking the Government to help SMEs, who are the lifeblood of the economy, by investing in the future of our internet infrastructure.”