Have you noticed that your office broadband slows down at different times of the day? The majority of businesses in the UK are operating on a contended broadband connection. Whether you’re running an online store, managing cloud-based applications, or supporting a remote workforce, the type of broadband connection you choose can significantly impact performance and productivity. Two key terms you may come across when selecting a business broadband service are ‘contended’ and ‘uncontended’. Understanding the differences between these options can help you make the right decision for your business.

Data sovereignty is more than just a compliance requirement. Where your data (including backups) is stored can have far reaching consequences for security, accessibility and legislative requirements. 

What is data sovereignty?

Data sovereignty is the concept that data is subject to the laws and regulations in the country in which it is collected or stored. One way to understand data sovereignty is to compare it to when  you travel internationally. If you visit America then you must obey US laws whilst you are there, but on return to the UK you must obey UK laws. If a business has data in many different countries then they must obey the data laws of each individual country for the data they have stored there.

Over the past few years, remote working has moved from a perk to a necessity for many people. A study by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 28% of working adults in Great Britain were hybrid working and 13% solely working from home in the autumn of 2024. Many businesses have embraced this shift since Covid, realising that flexible working can lead to increased employee satisfaction, improved productivity, and cost savings. However, to reap the full benefits of remote work, organisations must invest in robust IT infrastructure that ensures their teams stay connected, secure, and efficient.

As the world embraces faster, more efficient communication technologies, the traditional ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) and PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) systems are being phased out. For decades, these networks have been the backbone of voice and data communication, connecting businesses and households across the globe.

While the benefits are clear, the transition brings many questions. What does the switch-off mean for businesses? How will it impact services like fax machines, alarm systems, and landlines? And, most importantly, what steps should you take to ensure a smooth transition?

In this blog post, we’ll answer the most frequently asked questions about the ISDN/PSTN switch-off, providing you with practical insights and guidance to navigate this major change.