The online research, conducted by YouGov with 1,103 senior decision makers in British SMEs, marks the launch of Virgin Media Business’s new, ultrafast broadband packages including a 300Mbps product that’s almost four times faster than its competitors.
The research shows 57% of SMEs believe that the internet is critical to their business and that they wouldn’t be able to function without it. However, poor connections are becoming detrimental to their daily operations.
Faster speeds can provide small businesses with a significant online boost – opening then up to new technologies and allowing greater productivity. Virgin Media Business’ new ultrafast broadband packages can help businesses get more from their internet connection, offering speeds of 50Mbps, 100Mbps, 200Mbps and 300Mbps.
When small businesses were asked what they would do if they could complete their daily tasks more quickly, the top three responses were spending more quality time with family (40%), having dinner with their partner (30%) and going to the gym or playing sport (30%).
Other findings from the research include:
•Slow internet speeds tied with customer service queries as the biggest distractions from senior decision makers’ main tasks at work (33%)
•Over a third of small and medium sized businesses (34%) think a faster internet connection would accelerate their growth overall
•Online activities are high on the strategic agenda for 2016, with a quarter prioritising online advertising and 23% prioritising building their social media presence in order for their company to grow over the next 12 months
Peter Kelly, Managing Director, Virgin Media Business, said: “Small businesses are the lifeblood of the UK’s economy but need the right tools and technology to thrive. Our ultrafast broadband speeds are setting a new benchmark for business broadband and enabling businesses to reach their full digital potential by doing more, faster.”