It has been a year of positivity for the UK, with a successful Olympic Games and the recent news that the country appears to be emerging from the recession. However, small business will still be feeling the sting of the tighter budgets that may have put a hold on innovation – something one internet services provider is hoping might now change.
The introduction of the UK’s first 4G network by EE has been something of a milestone for the nation’s communications sector, bringing with it renewed confidence in what the online landscape might look like in the near future. But it seems EE has grander ideas of what its services might be able to offer beyond streaming movies for those using public transport or being able to upload photos to Facebook while sat in the park.
EE has said that in other countries like the US, businesses of all sizes and kinds have been able to innovate and move their ideas forward thanks to better mobile web connectivity. Firms in the healthcare, construction, automotive and many other industries, it claims, have all been able to look at doing things in new ways as a result of 4G. This, EE adds, is a good sign for the UK and what the future might hold for its brightest business minds.
Citing the results of a recent survey, which asked 1,200 business decision makers in the US what 4G had done for them, EE’s vice president of business Martin Stiven said 4G had transformed the way many companies overseas do their businesses. ”It’s unsurprising 86 per cent [of respondents] said that now they’ve experienced the benefits of 4G, they wouldn’t go back to 3G. We’re keen that British businesses reap the same rewards, helping them become more productive, efficient and innovative,” he added.
Of course, with EE now busy rolling its services out across a wealth of key cities, some will be wondering how exactly it will impact British business on a day-to-day basis. The most obvious response to this would be that a faster web connection means easier access to email and documents stored in the cloud. But while that is certainly likely to play a key role in helping those who work outside of the office, it is surely the perceived reliability of 4G that will be most attractive to these users.
The nation is currently still getting to grips with the idea of 4G broadband and it has yet to cover the larger part of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. However, it will be interesting to see what effect it has on the digital landscape this time next year, with other providers looking to launch their own services in 2013.
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Mike writes about Gadget and Tech news on his blog www.techitorleaveit.co.uk where you can find the latest Apple and Android news.
