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.