Editorial

Your Business is at Risk With These 4 Office Technologies

More than 10 billion wireless devices connect to the Internet. An additional 30 billion are anticipated to enter the market in the next seven years, according to Allied Business Intelligence, Inc. (ABI) research. Keep in mind workplaces are becoming smarter by using wireless technologies, such as “Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Cellular, and RFID.” Wireless technologies also expose vulnerabilities to hackers and security threats. Keep reading to learn how to safeguard your high-tech office gadgets from cyber crime.

1. Appliances & Automated Systems

Smart appliances, thermostats and automated systems can be remotely controlled from a smartphone or computer. You can set the break room coffee pot to brew from home, lock the doors from another room or turn the lights on before you arrive. Appliances also learn how to run more efficiently by tracking and storing patterns of use. For example, the Whirlpool® Smart Side-by-Side Refrigerator with 6th Sense LiveT technology features an Energy Advisor that tracks refrigerator energy use.

Information stored in these appliances can be a gold mine for a criminal. Times of low energy signifies an empty office. A criminal can hack in to your system and walk in through the front door. Safeguard your smart office from being compromised with a firewall installation that securely guards technologies plugged into your network.

Many manufacturers actively research software security and identify weaknesses that aren’t in compliance with security standards. A manufacturer sets its own security guidelines. Read your user manuals for security information and stay up-to-date on security trends and upgrades. Boost your company’s growth with expert seo for saas companies.

2. Digital Machines

Your digital copier, scanner or fax machine stores images and puts personal information at risk. Check that your machine has security software installed. If you operate older models, you might need to encrypt or overwrite data. Physically destroy the old copier’s hard drive before disposing the machine. Depending on the type of information your business uses and stores, you might be legally obligated to instate an information disposal program. Look into automating these machines through a cloud or software, such as mfax.io.

3. Security Alarm System

Alarm systems hardwired directly to authorities is practically ancient. Today, security systems connect to the Internet. Although the office is monitored 24/7, the entire system can be at risk – criminals can simply shut down the system before breaking in. Prevent compromised security by researching your options and different system’s specifications. An unbiased resource that compares different security systems can be found at securitycompanies.com. You can compare local companies to national companies and system features that will best meet your office needs.

4. Smartphones

In 2012, 289,874 Internet crime reports were filed, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. A smartphone, tablet, or iPad stores personal information and connects to the Internet, which can threaten security. In today’s digital age, staying informed about legal aspects of technology is as important as understanding the technology itself. This is especially true for those who find themselves entangled in legal issues related to computer crimes. The state of New Jersey, known for its detailed legal processes, demands a high level of expertise from attorneys in this field. For a comprehensive understanding and expert guidance, consider visiting your go-to source for legal advice and support. Also, these devices are small and can be lost or stolen easily.

Use the security code feature on all your smartphones. Tell employees to use precaution when downloading apps, just like downloading a file onto a desktop computer. Install all available patches for your phone. Phone patches are similar to software updates for your computer’s operating system. Patches contain security updates that safeguard your phone and its stored information. During phone upgrades, responsibly discard the mobile devices to prevent data from reaching the wrong hands. For more information on securing your company’s network, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Business Security Center.

The Apple Conversation

With all of the buzz from Apple’s latest press event last night the Salesforce Radian6 team have been analysing online conversation that kicked off post-event.

In a nutshell, the findings suggest that while Apple is branching out into the slightly lower tier market with the iPhone 5C, the company’s alignment with premium is still its strongest asset, with its higher tier handset and availability in gold generating the most positive interactions online.

Apple in demand

• Over 3,500 posts appeared requesting details to a live stream of the event
• Posts including the Apple event hashtag were 76.6% positive
• Over 431,000 mentions of Apple between the 10^th and 11^th September globally
• Over 26,700 mentions of Apple between the 10^th and 11^th in the UK alone
• Sentiment of UK posts was 67.8% positive
• Overall, most negative posts were tied to price
• Conversation peaked during the first hour of the press conference, which generated over 70,000 posts that hour alone
• iPhone 5S garnered just under 40,000 more mentions than its more cost effective brother, the iPhone 5C
• The upcoming launch of iOS7 created the most overall buzz during the event, generating over 33,000 online mentions
• The release of the iPhone 5S in gold was the second most mentioned feature, resulting in over 4,600 posts

The competition

Top three most mentioned smartphone brands in conjunction with the launch were:

• Samsung
• Nokia
• HTC

* Both Samsung and HTC were drawn into comparisons over functionality and price

Nokia’s social media hijacking also brought it into the mix, with Nokia suggesting the colourful iPhone 5C designed was inspired by its Lumia range: https://twitter.com/nokia_uk/status/377483408043036672/photo/1

Thanks to Salesforce Radian6 team for sharing this insight with us. Salesforce Radian6 is a product which is part of the Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Posted by: Matt

Sports Fans Go Mobile

If you have a mobile phone or an iPad or other connected device, you must have used it to check on the progress of your team online. There are a number of great apps that you can get on your phone that can help you keep up to date with all the latest goings on from the world of your favourite sport. If you are a lover of sports betting, you should also take advantage of the bet £10 get 30 offers of any of your favourite sports to bet. Or consider the best free NCAAB picks and enjoy this bet until you win.

Sports fans who can’t watch the game, match or tournament would do well to download the BBC iPlayer Radio app. Unlike the BBC Sports app which is little more than a mobile-friendly version of the website, you can use this app to listen to sporting events such as the Ashes lives on your mobile on Radio 5 Live or Sports Extra while you work or while you are on the move. The app is easy to use, and you can programme in alerts so you don’t miss your favourite games. It’s a handy tool for keeping track of live action, making it useful for those interested in sports betting at เว็บแทงบอล คืนค่าคอมสูงสุด UFABET as well. Make a Keputusan 4D bet on your favorite sports and have the chance to win a lot of prizes.

If you don’t subscribe to Sky but want to see some of the games, then the Sky Sports TV app is for you. The app itself is free and you can subscribe to the sky sports channels, including the four Sky Sports channels, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports News and Sky News for only £4.99 per month plus VAT. This allows you access to top 스포츠중계 without a full subscription. You’ll have to watch over a WiFi connection to make sure you don’t rack up some really high bills though.

If it’s the thrills and spills of Formula One for you, then the F1 2013 Timing app is the one. At £19.99 the price is quite high, but if you are a dedicated fan then this app is totally worth it. There’s so much more information to see from 3D driver tracking which lets you see who is where on the track. Additionally, there are also lap times, info on the cars and tyres, control messages, text commentary live and more.

When it comes to betting on your favourite sports, there is a move from the bookies to the computer, and now with the increase in the number of people using mobile phones, onto mobile. You can check all the latest odds at Freebets.org on your tablet or phone while you watch the game and download the appropriate app that will get you the biggest payout.

With apps from William Hill, Betfred and all of the other bookies, you can be sure that you will be able to place your bets and win big. Additionally, sports betting sites like bro138oy.com offer even more options for bettors to explore.

If you love sports and betting on them on platforms like UFABET ผู้นำการพนันกีฬาออนไลน์, but struggle to find people to watch them with, you should download Fanatic. This social sports app lets you find out where you can watch your favourite team, and lets you chat with fellow fans and arrange meetups in venues showing the match.

Gaming on the Move

Online gaming has become increasingly popular. It was announced this week that Android and iOS games are generating four times the revenue of dedicated handheld consoles.

A report by IDC, a research firm, and analytics company App Annie has shown that despite the belief that people won’t spend money on games in the Google play store, the sales of games for Android devices was more than that of both Sony and Nintendo combined for their specialised handheld game consoles. In fact, the game sales on iOS and Android stores combined was a huge four times the amount spent for games on devices such as 3DS, DS/DSi, PS Vita and PSP.

Why has online gaming become so popular? The rise in the number of people playing games on their phones and other devices had led to an explosion in people playing games online. It’s so easy to start playing online casino games when you are sitting on the train on your commute to work, or playing a racing game when there’s nothing on TV from the comfort of your sofa. You can สำรวจโลกของ UFABET, which is the most trusted online casino.

New models of mobile phone are getting better and better, with bigger screens, faster connections and more processing power which is awesome for playing agen sbobet games. There is more electronic processing power in a modern smart phone that they moon mission of 1969 had in their whole ship. Imagine!

The Samsung Galaxy s4 is one of the bets handsets for gaming on the market right now. It has a HD screen and the colours are crisp and sharp. This means that the screen doesn’t look distorted or warped when you have the screen close to your eyes. The touch sensitivity is high and you can even play games in touchless mode.

Another option is the HTC One, with its 4.7″ screen and quad core Snapdragon processor. The sound quality is incredible with this handset, with no tinny sounds coming from these Beats Audio endorsed speakers.

The iPhone 5 is another good choice for gaming, as the selection of games in the app store is huge. However, the screen is not as big on the iPhone which can be an issue for some people. The graphics look great and the phone is deft in handling complex processes when playing games. The device is also a good size for handheld gaming, longer yet lighter than previous models.

Whatever you decide, you can be sure that you will spend hours playing games on your new handset. For more mobile games, check out android4fun.

Benefits of Building an Enterprise Mobile App Store

The research firm Gartner predicts that by 2017, at least 25 percent of companies will have their own app stores. Finding the balance between your employees’ personal preferences and security for your business may never be easy. The widespread adoption of BYOD continues to give companies headaches – from the lack of uniformity to the questionable app choices employees make. By hiring react native developers to create your own enterprise app store, you can greatly increase the security of what employees bring to the workplace.

What is an Enterprise App Store?

Just as BYOD is increasing in organizations, so is BYOA (‘Bring Your Own App’). Employees find apps they like to use for work and add them to their workflow. Unfortunately, those apps sometimes create security risks for your company. With an enterprise app store, you can prevent this.

Your IT department creates your enterprise app store. It leads the enterprise application development, reviews apps and makes them available through an online store (something most employees are now familiar with) once they are determined to be safe. There are simply too many advantages to creating an enterprise app store, even if the initial setup takes some time.

Address a Critical Need

Information security giant Symantec argues the knowledge and data of a corporation are its most important assets. Keeping tabs on your company’s information is critical to the future of your business. Yet, when you allow employee’s apps access your system, you are letting in a huge unknown.

Apps can come from anywhere in the world, and are sometimes designed with malicious intent. The app itself could also be benign, yet still be open to manipulation by parties with ill intent. Either way, your employees will have little understanding of the risk such apps present without the input of your IT team.

Easier For Everyone

The initial process for a company-specific enterprise app store will take some time, but the end result makes things easier for management, IT and employees. Apperian encourages business executives to collaborate with IT departments to decide which employees need which apps. Giving employees access only to apps that help with their specific tasks cuts down on confusion, and helps workers identify the best tools for the job.

The cost of developing an app varies with what content you want it to offer and what kind of app you are creating. BlueCloudSolutions.com breaks down the cost estimates:

• $1,000-$4,000 for a simple table-based app.
• $8,000-$50,000 for a database native app.
• $10,000-$250,000 for app-based games.
• Additional functions can change your cost, such as in-app purchasing for $1,000-$3,000, share capabilities for $500-$1,500, Web services for $1,000 to $5,000, etc.

Drawing clearer boundaries for work-appropriate programs does not have to be ultimately restrictive, either. The overwhelming push for both BYOD and BYOA demonstrates the desire of employees for autonomy. Now, however, with solutions such as enterprise mobility management for BlackBerry, you can control business use while giving complete freedom for personal use.

Systems such as BlackBerry’s allow you to partition employee devices into work sections and personal sections. You only allow apps from your company’s enterprise app store on the work partition. And if you do detect a security compromise, you can wipe only the work partition of the device. Learn about the application security testing for an added security protection.

Control What is Necessary

Enterprise app stores and enterprise mobility solutions are the future of BYOD. There is little doubt employees will continue to want their own devices in the workplace. By using these enterprise solutions, you can achieve acceptable levels of security across ever-changing personal technologies. Looking for some great alternatives to APKPure? Check out these best apk pure alternatives!

The 5 Most Important Things to Look For in a Web Hosting Company

It’s time to start your own website-maybe you’re going for a personal blog, or maybe you’re launching a multimedia powerhouse using services like Symfony PHP framework. You’ve read the reviews, gotten an idea of what’s out there and now you’re on the hunt to purchase. Here are five things you have to keep in mind as you compare fast shared web hosting services:

Operating System

The operating system of your Web host’s server is an important factor in picking the perfect host. Many hosts offer a variety of operating systems, such as the latest Windows server edition and various distributions of Linux and BSD. The operating of Web technologies that are supported, the scripts you can use and the database system available. In most cases, you’re going to want to choose a Linux-based server due to the flexibility you get with this operating system. However, if you’re using Microsoft-specific technologies, such as Frontpage Extensions, go with a Windows server.

Customer Support

Even if you’re an experienced system administrator, you’re going to run into problems with the server from time to time. There is nothing worse for an entrepreneur than the servers going down and losing valuable Web traffic. Find a host that has an appropriate range of support options, focusing on those that offer 24/7 support. Many hosts keep lower-tier clients on a ticketing support system, so find out whether you can call in without additional costs, or if you are going to be waiting for your ticket to be addressed. WordPress is the trusted and most-used platform and many users are using this wordpress Astra theme in their websites because of the benefits.

Hardware

Some server applications are absolutely brutal on system requirements, so check the hardware specs of the server you’re considering to determine whether they will be able to stand up to your needs. The base server hardware isn’t all that you need to consider, either. If you’re looking at a shared or virtual private host environment, confirm with the host you’ll be able to get enough system resources allocated so your script runs smoothly.

Control Panel

You probably aren’t going to want to control your entire website through SSH, so having a solid control panel option makes your wordpress hosting life a lot easier. One of the most common control panels you’re going to run into is cPanel. This is a full-featured control panel that makes most administration and website management tasks simple. It’s also an excellent choice if you’re reselling your hosting package, as you get complete control over sub-accounts. Direct Admin is another great option for a control panel. Find a website design agency that will offer you excellent wordpress support.

Pricing

Generally, the cheapest Web-hosting services are shared servers, and the most expensive are dedicated servers. If you’re running a small, personal website without resource-heavy scripts, then a shared host works well and costs less than $10 a month. If you have hundreds of domains, databases and resource-hungry scripts, a dedicated server makes better sense. The cost of a dedicated server can go into the hundreds or thousands of dollars for high-end options. Tech Radar reports 37 percent of people believe if a business has a bad website, they’d be better off having no website instead. You don’t want to have that kind of issue when you set up your site, so choosing a solid host is a necessary requirement. If you need a new webpage in Denmark look for ny wordpress hjemmeside.

Consider using an online guide that helps you compare service providers, such as WebHostingBlueBook.com. Make sure you’re not just looking at price, either; a good guide should help you compare a wide range of factors, including the control panel, overall ease of use, support, reliability and popularity. Once you decide on which web hosting company you’ll go for, consult with this SEO agency in NZ for your website’s online presence.

What Web host do you use for your websites? Share in the comments.

The next big thing in Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi has become a cornerstone of our digital lives. It has filled the voids in mobile networks, which have historically never been as fast or as reliable as we would like. Hotels, restaurants, coffee shops; wherever we go, we can safely assume that there will be Wi-Fi waiting for us.

However, it has not been without its flaws. Speed is one of them but it usually still beats the one bar of 3G that plagues much of the country. The biggest drawback to Wi-Fi hotspots for most is the need to constantly log on. Every time you enter a new hotspot, you need to logon; every time you let your device go to sleep, you need to logon and sometimes you just need to logon again for no good reason at all. Well, the days of ‘logging on’ are numbered as Hotspot 2.0 is on the way.

You may have heard the term batted about once or twice; for example, at the launch of the new Samsung Galaxy S4 or the new iOS7; but what is it and what does it mean for you?

Hotspot 2.0

Hotspot 2.0 is a specification pioneered by the Wi-Fi Alliance, the Wireless Broadband Alliance and other partners, which will automate the connection to hotspots without any input from the user. Passpoint devices (such as the Galaxy S4 and iOS 7 devices) will be able to connect to certified hotspots using the SIM card to authenticate.

This means that devices will be able to pass between Wi-Fi hotspots and even the cellular data network without any input from the user. The implications of this new technology are massive.

As mobile service providers and hotspot providers forge new roaming partnerships, the Holy Grail of ‘always connected’ will finally be realised with devices always finding the best available connection.

People’s mobile data usage will fall dramatically as devices automatically hook up to local hotspots. This will not only mean that people use less of their data allowance; but the overcrowded cellular networks will get a break too. The truth is that even with rollout of 4G, the mobile spectrum is becoming increasingly overcrowded and Hotspot 2.0 will provide some much needed relief. Less traffic on the cellular data network means that when people do need to access the internet on the move, the experience will be a much better one.

With Wi-Fi being much more battery efficient than mobile broadband, devices will need to be recharged much less. When it comes to roaming abroad, Hotspot 2.0 could be a huge money saver. Mobile roaming is incredibly expensive business and Wi-Fi roaming is likely to give frequent travellers a break in data costs.

Great, when can I get it?

The great news is that the technology is already in place. The Galaxy S4 and new Apple devices are Passpoint compliant and a number of access point vendors are already shipping HS2.0 enabled devices. This is how to make hotspot faster either on Android or iPhone.

Expect more devices to follow this year and for the technology to really begin taking off in 2014. It is finally time to wave goodbye to those annoying ‘Please login’ screens.

Written by The Cloud (www.thecloud.net). We are a BSkyB company and one of Europe’s biggest public access WiFi providers.

Upgrading Your Rural Home Technology

You enjoy an uncomplicated life in a place far removed from most people. Now you’ve decided to upgrade your home with a few high-tech capabilities. You immediately run into obstacles, because rural America lacks the infrastructure that larger communities already have. Sixty percent of households in rural areas still do not have access to the Internet. It’s time to upgrade, but you’ll need to start with getting reliable network access.

The Internet Access Puzzle

Start by checking with your local telephone companies to see if they have any network options available to you. They may have DSL available, but it is very dependent on your location. Dial-up may be available, but there are so many things you can’t do with a dial-up connection.

You can also research local satellite Internet providers for options. Two-way communication via a satellite dish is available and doesn’t require additional cabling. The upload speed on this set-up is much slower than the download speed, but it is still an improvement over dial-up.

Tied to Your Phone

Some carriers have put their expansion dollars into building cell towers instead of overall network access. If you live in an area with limited Internet options, but have reliable cell phone service, you might look at tethering as an option. Tethering gives your computer the ability to connect to your cell phone and access the Internet through that connection.

Mashable reviews several tethering apps that run on the cell phone. Normally, all that is required is a cable from your computer’s USB port to the phone. Run the app on the phone, and your computer will now have Internet access. Because apps and phones vary, you’ll want to research how this might affect your cell phone bill. In some cases, you will have access to the Internet for free. Other carriers may require changes to your data plan and a monthly fee.

Secure Your Home

More home security options become available to you with a network connection. Home automation is now available and affordable to the homeowner and will let you do things remotely, such as:

• Turn lights on and off
• Lock and unlock doors and windows, if you are looking for replacing your doors and windows, you can learn all about door and window replacement cost here. Enhance your home’s comfort and curb appeal with superior double glazing solutions. Contact Double Glazing Hitchin for professional services.
• Turn alarm systems on and off
• Watch or record activity in your home with video cameras

Various devices can be connected to your home network. When you are away, you can use a computer or smartphone to access your home network to control these devices. You gain peace of mind when you are away from home and wonder if you turned your alarm system on before you left.

Make Your Home Wireless

Installing cables throughout the home for network access in each room can be replaced with affordable and easy-to-install wireless devices like a wireless router. If you have a large home with many rooms, or more than one story, you may need a device called a wireless repeater, which captures your home network signal, and amplifies it so there are no weak signal areas in your house.

You can purchase wireless printers that connect to your network and network attached storage (NAS) devices that act like wireless disk drives. With a total home wireless system, you can access printers, disks and other computers from anywhere in the house, with no wiring required.

Have your own tips? Share them in the comments.

Creative Commons image by paul_irish

The UK Rural Broadband Initiative – How Fast will it get Here?

In July 2013, the National Audit Office (NAO) reported that the UK Government’s plan to roll out its “Rural Broadband Programme” was likely to miss its 90% coverage target by nearly 2 years. May 2015 is that target date and the 90% coverage applies to a speed objective of at least 24 megabits per second (Mbps). The remaining geography is planned to be able to connect at 2 Mbps or better. Specific wording of the NAO report’s key facts indicates a revised March 2017 date for completion of the programme.

Other aspects of the project highlighted as not up to speed included the aspect of fair competition as, so far, there has been a monopoly on the business being awarded to provide the infrastructure. To date 26 of the 44 local projects have reached that particular milestone. Additionally the local rural residents’ feedback on the progress is reported as “poor” – although with a government run project, perhaps eliciting feedback and hoping for something positive might be a long shot.

Purpose

One of the driving factors behind the programme, officially referred to as “The Rural Broadband Programme”, is that of business growth – it is recognised that superfast broadband access is essential for the UK economy to recover from the current recession. The global business world is reaching into the corners of the globe and being run out of small corners of the country, including more and more home run businesses. Comprehensive superfast broadband coverage is considered the catalyst for world class communications and thus world class services.

In the UK, as expected, a large proportion of the rural landscape is centred on the farming industry. Already under pressure from large supermarket chains in terms of competing in the modern world, this sector contributes to approximately 20% of the British economy.

Businesses need to be run from far afield

The aim to create “The best superfast broadband network in Europe” already has a pretty good head start, with the UK having a high 70 plus per cent broadband coverage at the initiation of the programme in December 2010. This figure was ahead of Euro-business heavyweight Germany, the United States and even Japan. The UK does have a wide and competitive selection of internet service organisations fuelling our need -this is the website of UK broadband provider TalkTalk.

Implementation

Delivery of the programme is the responsibility of a specific unit, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) – which is itself an entity within The Department for Culture, Media & Sport. This organisation essentially administers grant funding to the local body handling the rural area’s infrastructure build, which then receives support in providing the coverage. This assistance includes a contract framework for use by the local authorities which also includes safeguard assurances with the objectives of addressing:

1. Processes for the procurement of potential suppliers – intending to promote healthy competition.

2. Some assertion that the bidding cycle will be reduced risk by means of a call-off procedure.

3. The provision of mechanisms for in-life contracts as this is the phase where ultimately the initial expenditure needs to be returned.

This strategy of assisting funding and providing “support” allows the implementation to be technology-neutral, as the reliance on and re-use of existing infrastructure and differences in geographical challenges means there isn’t a one size fits all solution. It is thus envisaged that a blend of fixed wireless, satellite or cable may be required. It is hoped that a healthy dose of fibre optic cable will be used further into the outlying rural network although the Fibre To the Cabinet (FTTC) and Fibre To The Home (FTTH) solutions will have to be evaluated on a case by case basis.

Despite the previous seemingly impressive figures for the UK’s broadband capabilities, the download speed compared to Europe is far from the gold medal placing due to the legacy copper metal construction.

Funding

Nothing comes for free, even if it comes really slowly, and the need to help out the remote but vital areas of the economy is in conflict with the business cases for those providing this infrastructure. The numbers make sense in the more densely populated regions – where the subscriptions more quickly make up the initial outlay – but this is not commercially viable in the isolated towns, villages, hamlets, farmsteads and smaller communities.

For this reason some incentive in terms of finance was required and a government subsidy to stimulate the commercial activity which has until now been absent.

The government has set aside £530 million of public money for this rural broadband programme and this funding was approved by the EU in November 2012. When an application for a grant is accepted, the local body is usually required to match the grant, but with an option to pay more in return for a superior level of coverage. This money is then available for the winning telco to use to complete the work.

At the outset of the programme 44 areas were identified as being in need of assistance, some quite large – Scotland and Wales – and others at county level size. The funding allocation model was not just a measure of area, but considered other factors and as of July 2013 £462 million had been assigned.

Timeline

Referring to the original milestone target of May 2015, the delay in roll-out is partly because of an extended period of negotiation with the EU, which was required under the State Aid Rules for this nature of government funding, that took 6 months longer than planned. There has been an official revision in timing and definition of the milestone: with “securing delivery by December 2016” and expecting the actual reach to be 4.6 million premises in total by March 2017. Additionally, a slight shift in the coverage statistics is anticipated, with an increased figure of 92 per cent of premises in areas covered by the Programme having access to superfast broadband, although with four of the 44 local areas now falling short of the target 90%.

The Final 10 Percent

Once the programme is complete to whatever definition finally evolves, it is clear that around 10% of the country will still be in the slow lane. This is already prompting local community groups to come up with imaginative solutions – in the form of sort of hi-tech neighbourhood watch teams.

One such example Lancashire co-operative is B4RN – BB for the Rural North – whose members are taking matters into their own hands with 3.5m funded by share issue. Once operational, the broadband connection subscriptions will eventually cover the costs. This project was featured recently in a BBC Countryfile broadcast.

The Future

This ambitious project was never going to be a walk in the park (or the woods, fields or farmland). Even the local wildlife seems opposed to their natural habitat being information superhighwayed – badger setts in the way of broadband rollout. However, those of us living in the connected areas must understand what an advantage this provides whether for business or pleasure – it’s nice to visit the country to get away from it all, but there are occasions when communication is essential.

Related government projects are underway to likewise improve the quality and coverage of mobile phone voice and data services (the Mobile Infrastructure Project) and create super-connected cities.

A super-connected vision of the future

The average speed of UK broadband at home recently hit double figures at 12Mbps and many are in the position to further upgrade their packages to 30Mbps and beyond. Hopefully the rural areas won’t be running hard just to standstill or worse still continue to be left behind.

What’s clear is that the landscape is changing on an almost daily basis and there could be more to add to this superfast broad-brush resume of the superfast broadband situation very soon.