Your experiences
Paul, Holsworthy – full case study
I started the business in 1991 and have grown it to the point we employ 35+ staff in our Holsworthy office on the industrial estate and a further 30+ homeworkers in Devon and further afield. We pay well over £600k in wages and turn over £1.25m, much of which goes into the local economy. We compete with the biggest companies in our industry and are constantly innovating to sustain our high rate of growth (nearly 30% vs last year).
Andrew, (rural farm-based enterprise) South Molton – full case study
We are a rural farm based business enterprise near South Molton.
The businesses include a cookery school, holiday cottages and game shooting together with a more traditional farming enterprise focussing on Red Ruby Devon beef cattle and sheep. We have grown the business over the last four years and now employ four people full-time and several part-time and seasonal workers.
Jeremy, Cottage Holidays, Appledore – full case study
I run a 2 cottage holiday rental business with own website and taking bookings; I participate actively in 2 local charities including website management; We have experienced long periods of no Internet through poor provider service and with being located in rural local at maximum distance from exchange, only guaranteed 512 bps which gives us very poor reception at busy usage periods; similar experience by my neighbours also in business.
Keith, Rousden – full case study
The position here in the Trinity Ward of East Devon has not changed (Combpyne Rousdon). Speed fluctuates up to 8-900 kb so the joy of 2 – 5 Mb speeds are a dream. Our broadband connection has barely helped our business as the speed is still slow, albeit better than dial up.
Andrew, (Hotel), Exmouth – full case study
As a business user of Broadband many of our systems in place are heavily reliant upon the use of an efficient and speedy internet service. Our particular use is for hotel reservations and money transfers etc. A Broadband service is also given ‘Free’ to our customers , which we obviously pay for, and for our business clients it can be a deal breaker for them to actually stay with us rather than another hotel offering a more reliable/faster/free service.
Ken, (IT) Holsworthy – full case study
I run a small specialist IT support limited company from home and the homes of colleagues. I live in remote North Devon in a rural area, and have 4 employees. The internet is essential to my business and it could not be run without exchange of data over the internet with customers.
Architects, East Ogwell – full case study
As an architectural practice based in rural Devon with projects in both London and Devon. The internet is essential to our business.
Peter, (IT), Parracombe
“The internet connectivity in Parracombe is reasonable as there is a ‘phone exchange here… However there is currently no dated plan to bring 21CN to the Parracombe exchange. I did found a computer business (since sold) about 10 years ago [in Devon]… and employed about 15 people locally. This would not be easy to do currently as the ‘relative’ broadband performance here (as compared to that available in towns) is now very poor, so hosting servers here would not be an option.”
Lisa, (Dog-minding),Whimple – full case study
I have a home based business and use the internet to keep track of the world. I am also a ‘webmaster’ for 3 websites – my own and 2 for local organisations.
David, (IT) Highampton
As a web developer, my entire business is dependant on a reliable broadband connection. With the increased use of streaming video and other high file size media content, managing this data on my current 4mb connection can often be a challenge. I would be delighted if superfast broadband was available as this would transform my business.
Eddie, (Hotel), Parracombe – full case study
Our position is that we have broadband over our telephone line, which is limited in speed to 0.5 – 1.0 Mbps owing to our distance from our telephone exchange.
Pete, Exeter – full case study
Living in Devon or even Exeter – well outside the metropolitan areas – its clear that a viable, sustainable and prosperous future is completely dependent on remaining able to compete with and cooperate with fast moving communities and developments in Brazil, India and China; its axiomatic that the essential criteria to achieve this include internet and broadband links which are several magnitudes faster than the current UK “internet cycle paths”.
Dudley, Dunchideock – full case study
Sadly, some are in areas of very low broadband speed and this causes great difficulties for the recipient of documents, etc. What many of us take for granted is a nightmare for the low speed blackspots.
Cliff, (trade manufacturer), Holsworthy – full case study
We supply clock parts and laser cut plastic shapes to the hobby and clock trade in the UK and abroad. The internet has totally transformed our business over the last 5 years and the vast majority of our orders and computer files needed for production are now received online.
Richard, Moretonhampstead
Broadband is essential to me and the work I do. I’ve been using broadband for just about 10 years – all in Devon. At present I live in a rural location and the available broadband is reliable but of average download speed and slow upload speed. I could do so much more with a faster connection – in particular a faster upload speed.
Broadband is especially important because there is no mobile signal where I live.
Frank, (IT) Ilfracombe – full case study
My wife is an IT consultant. She operates from home, here in Ilfracombe, 3 weeks and from the London office for 1 week a month.
The daily volume of data being moved between here, London, St Louis (USA), Bangalore (India) reaches on occasion 0.5 Tb –which can be slow.
Sharon, (Hotel) Lynmouth – full case study
We run a Guest House in Lynmouth which is beautiful but relatively isolated! Computer access is vital for running a guest house to take bookings and to make sure you are well promoted. We have to rely on BT Broadband as we felt this was the best for the area. Some operators do not even cover our area. Even BT gives a somewhat limited broadband option and we cannot have access to the new broadband that is being advertised as the way forward.
Alex, (IT/Media) Ottery St Mary – full case study
Our business relies on Broadband and our current location (3 miles from Ottery St Mary Exchange) means that we only get approximately 1.8Mbs connection speed. As a website developer and video production company we have a great need for super fast broadband and would massively benefit from both fast download, and more importantly for us; fast upload.
Lesley, DALC – full case study
As County Secretary for the Devon Association of Local Councils (DALC) I fully support the bid that has gone forward to BDUK. We are a member organisation of over 350 town and parish councils throughout Devon.
Nigel, (Web Design), Exmouth – full case study
The lack of broadband speed in Exmouth has a big effect on the production and services we are able to provide. As a website design & marketing company it is vital that we are able to access & share information quickly & reliably.
