Minister Outlines 5-Year Digital Plan for the UK

Image Credit: Digital Catapult Centre

Ed Vaizey has proposed many schemes to make the UK a "tech nation" including driverless buses and virtual reality teaching by Nobel laureates.

The Government's strategy for innovation in digital technology will take place over the next five years and all departments "across government" will be included. Speaking to the Times Ed Vaizey said:  "We want the UK to be synonymous with digital, a place where technology transforms day-to-day life.

"The potential impact is profound. It might mean that the best educators from around the world are made accessible to all - with virtual reality sets bringing Nobel laureates into the classroom. That we can build better houses, faster. That more power is given to to the patient, and the care we provide for our elderly and sick is improved and made more affordable.

"That we use driverless robotic buses in rural communities or help people to find parking places using GPS technology.

"When people want to start a digital business, trial new ways of working or invest in cutting-edge technology, we want them to choose the UK. This revolution is here to stay, and the UK as the 'Tech Nation' is the future we want to build."

Taking inspiration from London's Tech City, which is located in Shoreditch, the plan will seek to expand on it's success.

Self-driving cars have already been tested in the Greenwich, Milton Keynes and Coventry, but it remains to be seen when/if the tests will turn into workable options of the country's transport systems. 

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website. 

NHS Hospitals in England to get Free Wi-Fi

Healthy Secretary, Jeremy Hunts, announces free wi-fi will be provided in all NHS buildings in England in an attempt to improve services. 

Currently, hospitals either charge for wi-fi or have no access at all. With the wi-fi upgrade it means patients can use devices to go online to keep in touch with family and friends or watch TV while they wait. 

This announcement is just one part of the government’s plan to make the NHS “digital and paperless” by 2020.

Mr Hunt said: "Everyone using the NHS expects it to be a world leader in digital healthcare and free wi-fi is an essential part of making that a reality. It will give patients and staff the ability to access the services they need as well as freeing up clinical time and reducing overall costs."

The move is a recommendation from a government commissioned report on improving the use of online technology in the health service. The money for the service will be taken from a £1 billion technology fund. 

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website. 

All I Want for Christmas is…. Faster Broadband

Image credit: The Inquirer

Ofcom, the UK's communications watchdog, have released a Wi-Fi checker application that can help broadband customers keep their Wi-Fi running at high speeds at home and in the office. The app, which works by sampling wireless signals to see if data is flowing without interruption, provides tips to help people spot what's slowing down their internet. 

The Wi-Fi can be slowed down by anything: from lamps and kitchen equipment to baby monitors, you name it and it could affect it. However it may surprise you that the number one item that's slowing down everyones Wi-Fi this Christmas is fairy lights. BUT if your router is far enough away from the electronics and up high, your Wi-Fi may remain unhindered. 

Ofcom's report suggests that the Wi-Fi in nearly six million homes and offices are not running as fast as it could be. It also said that 27% of homes in the UK have broadband connections with download speeds of at least 30Mbps, however, rural areas are still lagging behind, with only every 4 in 10 having decent connection speeds. Ofcom said:

"Ofcom has identified challenges in improving coverage across the UK. Around 8 per cent of UK homes – around 2.4 million – are currently unable to receive broadband speeds of 10 Mbit/s or above.

This jumps to around half (48 per cent, or 1.5 million) in rural areas, where speeds are often affected by premises lying further from the network’s local street cabinet or local telephone exchange."

Small businesses are also struggling to gain high-speed broadband connections. Around 130,000 SMEs are persevering on download speeds of below 10Mbit/s, according to Ofcom.

Are you struggling with your broadband? Maybe it’s time to upgrade your company’s communication systems. Communication technologies can be complex, but broadband internet gives you high-value, low-cost options if the right package is successfully installed and maintained, get in touch with 360ict today for more information.

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.

Why SMEs Are Choosing 360ict For Their IT Managed Services

Why Choose Us?

360ict has been a full managed services provider in London for over 10 years. We help small and midsize enterprises achieve the results that matter most with our technology expertise and flexible ICT solutions. 

We believe in:

No contracts. 
We believe in earning your business so there’s nothing keeping you as a client from staying with us other than you knowing we’re the best Business IT Support Company out there. To date, all of our clients have given 100% positive feedback. 

Keeping it simple. 
We provide essential office support, from basics such as business internet to cloud and data centres, relocation services and printer fleets. We want to be the one phone number you call when problems come up.

Transparency. 
No hidden fees, no hidden advice, we give you what we promise the first time.

Reasons to work with us:

- We offer a simple to use, commitment free (no email address / portal login) calculator to help you review the value of your ICT service provision.

- We guarantee 100% absolute satisfaction. No contracts make sure we have to be on top of our game.

- We’ve been around for a while! We’ve found the right formula for servicing ICT.

- Get all your ICT services under one roof, no more dropped lines of communication between two third parties. We do it all and you get one number to call for anything ICT related.

- We’ll have a technician working on your issue in 60 minutes or less. Our location (Central London, Victoria, Euston, Bromley and Croydon) lets us respond, fast.

- We’re one of the first IT service providers in London to offer “green hosting” which uses low-cost power and natural weather resources so your business can be proud of its environmental ethics.

- We make sure your office is secure. Remote backups, firewalls and network monitoring means that you can have piece of mind that nothing will get lost or stolen.

- None of our services are pre-determined. We tweak and cater our services towards your offices’ specific needs. Get exactly what you need and want.

- You’ll have a fully supported infrastructure leaving you free to concentrate on your customers.

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including London Victoria, Euston, Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website. 

Will 5G Revolutionize Your Business In 2020?

One of the main highlights at this year’s Mobile Congress World in Barcelona was 5G. 5G is the next development in mobile technology, but will 5G improve the way businesses are run or is it all just hype?

Commercial 5G is expected to arrive around 2020, with full deployment towards the middle of that decade. But what can businesses actually expect from 5G, will it really be worth making the switch from 4G?

• It’s going to be ridiculously fast: we’re talking downloading an entire film in a second or video calling a client without any of the time delays or glitches.
• Smarter technology: devices will have to become smarter in order to successfully run 5G. But we’re talking more than just smartphones and laptops, this includes everything from printers to washing machines. 
• Increase in capacity: businesses will be able to connect all electronics to 5G, making the management of offices that much simpler. 
• It won’t break: a network that “won’t break”? Improving reliability issues is one of the main pros of 5G. 

There are many significant issues that telco providers are currently addressing: one of the main issues according to Business Spectator is that “the success of 5G will have more to do with connected systems than the 5G technology as such. 5G will involve a range of industry sectors and can only be successful if the applications are built in partnership and in collaboration with those sectors.” This means that new business models will have to be introduced. 

One thing is certain. The capabilities of 5G will add a whole new dimension to what the mobile industry is all about, and how businesses will have to adapt to be able to run and use this new technology.

360ict provides managed IT services and support for SMEs in central London and the south-east, including London Victoria, Euston, Croydon and Bromley. For more advice on gaining competitive advantage as a mid-sized company, give us a call on 0208 663 4000 or head to our website.