It a busy start to the week. Teams log on, phones ring, and emails fly… until suddenly everything stops.

That’s what happened twice in October 2025: Vodafone “dropped off the internet” on Monday 13^th, followed a week later by Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Over 130,000 reports were recorded for Vodafone, leaving customers offline, while AWS saw more than 6.5 million disruption reports, affecting major banks, retailers and public services.

For commercial landlords and business tenants, the message is simple: when your connectivity drops, so does productivity, reputation and revenue.  

The price of every minute offline

Connectivity is the backbone of modern business, but it’s value goes unnoticed until it is gone:

• UK businesses lost over 50 million hours and £3.7 billion due to internet failures
• Downtime costs have risen by 400% since 2018
• IT-related downtime averages £4,300 per minute
• 82% of companies report operational disruption and reputational damage as well as financial losses.

Why outages happens and why they hurt.

Connectivity outages can result from cable damage (especially on construction sites), ISP network issues, power failures, and/or human error and accidental software/configuration changes. And as buildings get smarter, the consequences multiply.

For tenants, the effects can be immediate:

• Lost communication internally and externally as phones, emails and video calls go down.
• Cloud services, internal platforms and shared drives go offline.
• Payment systems, e-commerce platforms and customer interactions freeze, leading to lost sales.  
• Staff productivity and morale drop, leading to bottlenecks and missed deadlines.

Long-term risks include erosion of client trust, disruption of supplier relationships, delays in project delivery and even contract losses if service levels aren’t met.

For landlords, outages can disrupt:

• Building management systems, lighting, HVAC and smart meters
• Access controls and CCTV
• Lift monitoring and safety alarms and systems  
• Tenant communications and service logs.

Repeated issues also erode tenant confidence, which then drives reputational damage, higher tenant churn, harder lease renewals and the risk of vacant space.

Staying connected: Why a good partner matters

Avoiding downtime requires more than just good hardware. It requires resilient design and proactive management, and that’s where a specialist partner like Curve IT can make the difference.

Form the earliest design stages, we partner with architects, developers and landlords to help create and manage reliable networks suited to the specific needs of the property and its users.  

• Resilient design: Dual routers, multiple fibre links, geographically separate routes and power feeds with battery backups protect networks against any single points of failure

• Advanced monitoring: Multiple monitoring systems proactively detect, investigate and resolve potential faults before they can escalate.

• Fast, transparent support: Our in-house support desk provides clients with clear communication channels and rapid responses directly from our engineers.

• Proactive maintenance: Daily automated backups, patch management and scheduled updates keep systems stable and secure, protect critical data and minimise any required downtime.

• Tailored, end-to-end service: Every technological detail of a building’s IT infrastructure is considered and designed to be reliable and adaptable as technology evolves, ensuring long-term service stability rather than short-term costly fixes.

With Curve IT, you are not just another account in a call queue. You gain a partner that is invested in your connectivity and your success.

“Always on”

When the internet goes down, productivity, trust and revenue go with it. And in an “always on” world, resilient IT infrastructure and the right partner are invaluable for protecting your buildings and business.

Curve IT work with architects, contractors and landlords to design and maintain networks that keep buildings and business tenants online, productive and satisfied – no matter what.

Talk to us today about your next development project.

References

• BBC News, (2025), Vodafone says outage affecting thousands of customers resolved
• The Times, (2025), Amazon, Snapchat and Ring ‘recover’ after AWS went down – as it happened
• Beaming, (2023), The Cost of Internet Downtime – The impact of outages on UK Businesses in 2023
• Clyk, (2025), The Real Cost of Downtime for UK Businesses
• IT for Less, (2025), The True Cost of Downtime: Stats Every Business Should Know

The post The Hidden Cost of a Connectivity Outage appeared first on Curve IT.

Exploring the tends now shaping the modern built environment, and why the right IT infrastructure is key for smarter, sustainable, resilient spaces.

The built environment is undergoing a significant transformation. Buildings are no longer just physical spaces, they are becoming digital ecosystems powered by smart systems, data analytics and sustainable technologies.  

However, as construction demands rise, there is a growing pressure to cut operational costs while also meeting ambitious sustainability targets to reduce climate impacts and conserve resources. 

This presents both opportunities for developers, architects and contractors, and success depends on integrating the right IT infrastructure from the outset. Getting it wrong risks inefficiencies, spiralling costs, and buildings that will quickly become outdated or non-compliant with future sustainability initiatives. 

Here we explore the four key trends that are driving the design and operation of built spaces and how the right IT infrastructure is needed to support smarter, sustainable developments.  

Hyper-connected buildings 

The integration of IoT devices, sensors and smart systems are already creating hyper-connected buildings. Globally, the number of IOT deployments in the commercial building sector is projected to more than double to 4.12 billion by 2030 ¹. These deployments include devices such as occupancy sensors, smart lighting, HVAC controls and access control systems, all which communicate with one another to improve operational efficiency and functionality. 

However, this level of connectivity only works if there is a solid IT foundation in place. Robust fibre infrastructure, resilient, high-speed networks (private or otherwise) and cloud-based platforms are essential for supporting large data volumes and maintaining uptime. Without this, developments risk bottlenecks and costly inefficiencies. 

AI-driven operations  

AI is becoming central to building operations and management systems, particularly for sustainable practices and ESG reporting. For example, AI-powered systems can: 

• Predict maintenance needs and anticipate equipment failures before they happen.  

• Automatically identify areas contributing to emission and waste and optimise energy consumption.  

• Analyse occupant behaviour to inform dynamic environment adjustments (e.g. lighting, temperature and security) ².  

And the benefits of these systems are clear:  

• Reduced downtime and maintenance costs  

• Improved energy efficiency and sustainability outcomes  

• Enhanced occupant comfort and productivity 

However, the potential of these AI-driven systems depends primarily on data quality, as well as security, integration and compatibility, and scalability³. And data generation alone is not enough.  

A secure, scalable and well-integrated IT infrastructure is therefore needed to support the generation and flow of data between devices and analytic platforms, and turn these AI insights into actionable outcomes – from energy savings to improved tenant experience.  

Sustainability by design  

Due to increasing environmental pressures, regulations and targets, sustainability is no longer optional. The World Green Building Council reports that the building and construction sector is globally responsible for 35% of energy consumption, 50% of resource consumption, and 38% of energy-related carbon emissions⁴. With the UK committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and London becoming a zero-carbon by 2030, developers must embed sustainability into their projects from the start.  

Digital tools, such as building performance simulations, energy monitoring systems, and digital twins are helping to reduce energy consumption, optimise resource use and cut carbon footprints. Physical strategies, such as the “dig once” philosophy, the rise of “circular economies”, and the emerging idea of “shared infrastructure” (which has had notable success in Sweden) also help to avoid duplication and further minimise embodied carbon.  

Early planning and design of the right digital infrastructure is key. Developers can avoid unnecessary and costly retrofits, reduce construction costs, and accelerate deployment, all while enhancing and supporting the building’s sustainability and adaptability.  

Enhanced security and resilience 

As buildings become more interconnected, the risk of system failures, outages and cyber-attacks grows. It is reported that the UK economy lost approximately £17.6bn in economic output in 2024 due to internet and connectivity outages, with the London economy accounting for approximately £5.7bn of that loss⁵.  

While the direct financial fallout of a system failure or outage can be significant, the wider impact to a building or tenant’s productivity, reputation and compliance can be far greater. This is why resilient IT infrastructure expertise and design must be considered as a priority for a development, rather than an afterthought.  

Redundancy and segmentation, secure access protocols, real-time monitoring and proactive alerts are just some of the key measures that ensure buildings and businesses remain digitally secure and operational even in the face of a system failure or outage.    

Equally important is the physical resilience of networks. Fibre optic sensing technologies are emerging to help detect threats and prevent accidental or construction-related damage, while enterprise-grade fibre, switches and network design help to maintain uninterrupted, high-quality connectivity, even in high demand or high risk environments.  

Preparing for the future  

It goes without saying that the future is going to see the built environment continue to evolve. Hyper-connectivity, AI, sustainability, and resilience will continue to define modern buildings. Collaborating early with all stakeholders during the design and construction stages ensures that developments are supported by the right IT infrastructure.  

The result? Smarter, greener and more efficient spaces that attract investors and tenants, provide high ROIs and long-term value for developers and landlords, and meet environmental and regulatory obligations. 

Integrating IT early ensures that today’s developments will be ready for the opportunities of the future. Curve IT consults with developers, architects and contractors to design and deliver buildings that are smart, sustainable and resilient.  Get in touch to discuss how we can support your next development project.   

References:

1. Memoori, (2025), IOT Devices In Smart Connected Buildings 2025 to 2030 

2. Johnson Controls, (2024), How AI is Transforming the Built Environment 

3. CSL, (2025), How AI, ML, RL and Dl are Transforming Building Management Systems 

4. World Green Building Council, (2025), The Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment 

5. Assembly, (2024), A report for Vorboss:  Reliability and Compensation in the business connectivity market

The post The Right IT Infrastructure: Supporting The Modern Built Environment appeared first on Curve IT.

Conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects, the structure was the first of its kind and it came with a host of “unknowns”, which required close collaboration across all disciplines to raise the structure successfully.  

Almost a decade on, we look at the unique challenge of creating the IT infrastructure to support such a visionary architectural build, and the valuable lessons learnt for future landmark projects.  

Key Actions

As the technological partner for the development of the i360, Curve IT was tasked with designing, delivering and supporting the extensive IT infrastructure required. Our approach was always collaborative, ensuring the technology enabled the landmark to function seamlessly – without comprising or competing with the architectural ambition.   

Planning and Design  

Our team immersed itself in the build process from the outset. We worked closely with Marks Barfield Architects and the wider project teams to provide insight and align IT requirements with the architectural design. This included:   

• Reviewing architectural drawings and M&E proposals to identify IT requirements and any potential delivery risks.  
• Developing a full IT infrastructure with ‘security by design’ principles by including hardware and software that protects client and public data.   
• Conducting a virtual WiFi survey using CAD data to model coverage, avoid dead zones and reduce unnecessary costs.   
• Designing the main communications room, including equipment specification, cabling and power requirements.   

Delivery and Collaboration  

Working hand-in-hand with all stakeholders (architects, engineers, contractors and suppliers), we ensured that the IT systems were fully integrated into the wider build. This included:   

• Supplying and installing networking equipment, server hardware, VoIP systems, payment gateways and CCTV connectivity.   
• Installing and configuring WiFi across all operational areas, from the restaurant, retail and event spaces, back office areas, and the glass pod itself.   
• Devising, testing and delivering the methodology for providing connectivity inside the pod, guaranteeing high speed connectivity even when elevated to full height, flying 450ft in the sky.   

From Vision to Reality: Lessons Learnt  

The i360 was designed to be a fully connected visitor experience and it lives up to that vision today. It showcases that innovative builds will always demand technology that is as visionary as the architectural design itself, and this does not come without valuable lessons:  

Lesson 1 – Integrate Technology Early   

Curve IT was bought into the i360 project half-way through the two-year construction period. Although this was relatively far into the RIBA Plan of Work stages, our team was able to identify the IT infrastructure required and advise on changes during the construction phase to avoid costly retrofits. Early involvement is always more effective. 

Lesson 2 – Model Before You Build  

Our pre-build WiFi survey using CAD data enabled us to create a virtual model of the planned network. Adopting a ‘predictive modelling approach’ allowed the Curve IT team to optimise the placement of WiFi access points within the architectural design, maximising coverage, eliminating dead zones and minimising hardware costs.   

Lesson 3 – Collaborate for Success   

There is balance between the ambitious vision and the realistic function. Without this balance, developments as unique as the i360 will struggle with success. This is why the Curve IT team collaborated meticulously with architects, engineers, contractors, and system suppliers for the i360 to ensure that the IT infrastructure and systems fit within the architectural design and delivered the functionality required without compromise.   

Lesson 4 –  Design for Digital Resilience and Reliability  

Delivering reliable connectivity across the site and into the glass pod at full elevation presented one of the biggest challenges to the project. Redundancy, link aggregation, coastal weather conditions and radio alignment had to be considered during the design, build and on-going function of the IT infrastructure system for the i360.   

Building redundancy into the IT infrastructure ensures that a single point of failure does not bring the whole system to a standstill. As a result, Curve IT included multiple connection points into the system to ensure that any IT failures do not interrupt visitor or operational services.   

Link aggregation also boosts capacity and continuity. Separate office and event WiFi links were originally installed at the i360 but these, along with point-to-point connections in the pod, were later aggregated to ensure resiliency of the IT systems – without compromising performance.   

Unforgiving weather conditions including coastal winds, salt spray, and rain can challenge even the most robust IT hardware installations. During the i360 build, careful cabling and weather-sealing were essential to ensuring long-term reliability in the harsh sea-side environment, as well as keeping maintenance costs and any downtime to a minimum.   

In moving structures, such as the i360, alignment of point-to-point WiFi radios is critical. The radio links in/on the glass pod rely on tight physical alignment to maintain connection as it ascends and descends, meaning that meticulous planning and installation was required to avoid any drops in connectivity.   

Resilient solutions are therefore critical for ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and supporting commercial and operational functions of large-scale attractions. For the i360 specifically, this included the ability to broadcast live on major radio and television channels, as well as stream music events globally from the pod – all at full elevation.  

The Future of Connected Landmarks 

The Brighton i360 proved that IT infrastructure must be treated as a core part of modern architecture, engineering and construction when creating structures that provide world-class visitor experiences.  

Curve IT turned complex challenges into reliable solutions and systems that continue to perform today – almost 10 years beyond the i360’s official launch, reflecting the resilience and longevity of the infrastructure. Our systems are built for purpose and built to last. 

MBA continues to evolve the concept of the i360 with the i360 Plus, a vision for new towers that unite architecture, engineering and technology.  

Conclusion

The lessons learnt from the Brighton i360 are invaluable and can be the difference between a building that simply looks iconic and one that also functions flawlessly.  

Wherever in the world new towers and visitor attractions are built, Curve IT is ready to design and implement resilient, secure, and high-performing systems that help visionary architecture become a fully connected reality.  

Want to Know More?

Curve IT consults with developers, architects and contractors to deliver connected buildings that are ready for the future. Get in touch to discuss your next construction or development project.   

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A new technology that enables building managers to deliver their own internet services to tenants in shared buildings has been launched, promising significant cost benefits.

MDU Connect provides building owners or managers with a combination of  hardware and specially designed software, including a cloud-based access portal, to manage the full network within their building.

This means that those running build-to-rent sites in particular can retain control of one single network – known as a converged network – and make substantial cost savings. The owned network can be used to deliver multiple services, including internet connectivity and smart metering capabilities to residents, without the need for third party involvement.

MDU Connect provides cost savings

MDU Connect’s combination of hardware and software has also been designed to provide cost savings on traditional building networks and building management systems. Beyond build-to-rent and office spaces, the breakthrough technology can be deployed in the hospitality sector, on university campuses and at other locations where occupants require connectivity and building owners or managers wish to deliver and monitor utilities.

Technology from network equipment manufacturer MikroTik is used alongside access points from wireless specialist Ruckus in order to establish the converged network. Software developed by the Curve team, including the access portal, is then used by those managing the building to deliver internet services to tenants. It also provides key information relating to the building management, such as utility consumption.

MDU Connect was developed as part of Curve’s work with London based Build-to-Rent provider Essential Living, who wanted to feel comfortable in taking full responsibility for the quality of internet services for tenants at its four sites in the capital. Following the success of the scheme, Curve IT are now rolling out this innovative service.

Improve tenant services

Simon O’Hare, CEO of Curve IT, said: “Keeping tenants in a shared building connected to the fast internet is up there with the most important requirements of building owners or managers, not least with the growing move towards working from home.

“Unfortunately, many building owners have to rely entirely on a third party to provide this service. As well as losing control over this important aspect of tenant satisfaction, it also means building owners or managers miss out on the ability to package and sell connectivity services directly to tenants, and this can be a significant new revenue stream.

“MDU Connect places control back with building owners and managers while providing tenants with improved services, so it’s a win-win scenario.”

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Joanna Aldridge, Claire Buckman and Verley North all join the company following a period of growth and an expansion of the company’s network and managed IT services into the construction and built environment sectors.

Claire Buckman will join as a project manager for Curve’s ongoing work with construction giant Balfour Beatty, which involves supporting the installation of full fibre networks as part of major Balfour projects.

Verley North joins Curve as a HR and people development specialist and will oversee training programmes and staff development initiatives while Joanna Alderidge will play a central role in the company’s accounts process.

The trio of new appointments follows the hiring of network specialist Matt Ryan, who joined Curve earlier this year to lead their full fibre infrastructure team.

Simon O’Hare, CEO of Curve IT, said: “Joanna, Claire and Verley join Curve at an exciting time for the business.

“While the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown is having an impact on business, we have also seen many positive signs.

“A number of our team have been involved in facilitating and supporting remote working for businesses and we remain involved in a number of major technology projects in the construction and built environment sectors.

“Our new hires will be important in helping to support and drive the business in the months ahead.”

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As lockdown is gradually eased, how permanent will these changes be? How will our needs and expectations of connectivity look different in the future?

Online shopping

Online shopping is hardly a new invention of the lockdown period – but its scale and reach has increased enormously. The increases have been limited only by the shops’ own capacity to react to demand with Tesco doubling its online shopping deliveries in April and then adding a further 200,000 in the first ten days of May. Online shopping is not just a way for people to shop conveniently, it helps those more vulnerable to the virus stay safe and collect daily essentials such as food, toiletries and medication.

The convenience of online shopping, coupled with potential fears around infectivity and hygiene physical stores, may well mean that these patterns continue for long after shops have reopened. As the FT recently asked, will lockdown permanent change the way we shop?

Connecting with friends and family

With lockdown restricting the ability for people to visit their family social media and videoconferencing platforms have become much more popular. In China, Cisco noted an over 20-fold increase in users for their videoconferencing services. As for social media Facebook’s website has seen a 27% increase in use. However, the Facebook app has only seen traffic rise by 1.1% suggesting that the increase in the website traffic is sourced from new users from an older demographic that typically use desktops rather than apps. People who had avoided using these types of technologies have been forced to adapt in order to keep in touch with their loved ones. With that hurdle surpassed it is predicted that the use of videoconferencing facilities will remain high after lockdown.

Remote work and education

Arguably the most important ways in which we are staying connected in lockdown are through remote working and education. Both of these trends have been on the rise over the past decade or so, however, COVID-19 has accelerated their implementation. Connectivity is especially important for work and educational resources as they often need a large bandwidth in order to function properly. People who don’t have access to a strong connection have been struggling to cope with the demands of remote working. Moving forward to create a strong remote working culture, connectivity needs to be placed at the heart of infrastructure projects.

It seems likely that many organisations will permanently embrace home working even after the COVID-19 pandemic, with lockdown demonstrating the flexibility and effectiveness of tools like videoconferencing and collaboration software. Facebook has said that it expects half of employees to work remotely over the next five to 10 years. This could permanently reshape the design of both office buildings and private dwellings, with premium homes being those with space for home offices and of course, high-speed, reliable connectivity.

Entertainment

One of the biggest challenges people have been facing on a day to day basis during lockdown is how to keep themselves entertained. Streaming services have seen a huge increase in use, as their takeover from traditional programming gathers pace, with Netflix seeing a 16% increase in use during this period. More and more we are reliant on the internet for our entertainment via streaming services, online gaming, online literature and social media.

News updates and essential information

With many of us stopping physical newspaper deliveries over safety concerns, we are consuming more news from online sources than ever before. Online news allows consumers to receive updates instantly and the BBC have been running a live feed to keep people up to date with the government’s virus response. With the situation changing rapidly online news is a great way to keep on top of the latest information, improving safety.

The Covid-19 crisis has not only increased our dependence on connectivity in the short term, it has also crystallised growing trends in our internet use for the future. The acceleration of these trends has highlighted the importance of building with connectivity in mind. A strong internet infrastructure is essential for keeping everyone in society connected in times of crisis as well as creating innovation moving forward.

Internet provision at home

In single-occupancy dwellings, responsibility for the internet lies with the householder or the tenant. They deal with ISPs, choose their internet package, and contact their provider if any problems occur. However, in multi-occupancy buildings, it is often the responsibility of the building owner or developer to ensure that each individual property within the building can be connected to the internet.

Should the coronavirus pandemic increase home-based work and learning for the long-term – and, as we have outlined here, it seems likely that it well – then the pressure will be on such owners and developers to ensure an extremely slick and strategic approach to provisioning connectivity throughout. Approaches such a ‘dig once’ philosophy when provisioning full-fibre networks in new builds, and considering the interplays between high-speed connectivity in individual homes, and smart building services throughout the entire building, will become increasingly important.

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As a result, the team at Curve IT has now implemented a remote working policy. All members of staff are fully equipped to operate in a safe and secure way from home, and the company will therefore remain open for business and able to continue existing levels of service and support as usual.

As all Curve IT employees will be working from home please do not call the main office number. Instead, if you would like to speak to someone, please call or email your regular point of contact. Alternatively, email contact@curveit.com for assistance.

We will continue to monitor the situation and inform all our customers and partners of any developments and update our Covid-19 Business Continuity Plan in accordance.

If your business is looking for help with implementing or improving a remote working policy get in touch!

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Matt Ryan joins from Wessex Internet, where he was technical director, in a new role at Curve as Head of Fibre Infrastructure Development.

With nearly 20 years’ experience working in network infrastructure and architecture, Matt will be responsible for working on large scale projects associated with the planning and delivery of superfast broadband to communities in the South East and elsewhere in the UK. This includes working with local authorities and major private sector construction partners.

Matt’s role will centre around Curve IT’s ‘dig once’ approach, which aims to minimise disruption to communities and reduce costs for local authorities and private contractors by co-ordinating the installation of full fibre cables and ducts with other major construction work.

Matt has held a number of senior positions in his career in addition to his previous role as Technical Director at Wessex Internet. He served as Technical Director at Metranet Communications Ltd, where he oversaw the introduction of the UK’s first hybrid wireless and fibre gigabit service provider network in Brighton, which was funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s Connection Voucher Scheme.

He also worked at Technical Director at Moovera Networks Ltd, where he led one of the UK’s first installations of WiFi on public transport by providing connectivity on the Stagecoach run ‘Oxford Tube’ bus service connecting Oxford to London.

Commenting on his appointment Matt Ryan said, ‘‘Full fibre infrastructure is an essential utility to communities across the UK, and once in place it brings a wide range of productivity, leisure and digital inclusivity benefits.

“However, getting fibre infrastructure in the ground requires a carefully coordinated approach.

“With many local authorities and contractors looking beyond Openreach when it comes to delivering their own connectivity projects, I’m looking forward to championing Curve’s expertise as a full fibre planning and delivery partner.”

Simon O’Hare, Managing Director of Curve IT, said ‘‘It’s great to have someone with the experience that Matt brings onboard.

“He will be pivotal to the expansion of our fibre infrastructure development team.’’

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What does this mean for Windows 7 users?

Microsoft has stated that running Windows 7 without continued software and security updates will leave users at greater risk for viruses and malware. The reason for this is that when Microsoft send out their monthly updates, security patches are a key part or this. Windows 7 will use much of the same code as Windows 10, however, it won’t be updated and potential weaknesses will no longer be addresses anymore. With the number of current users still standing in hundreds of millions, hackers are likely to use potential weaknesses to target computers still running Windows 7.

What should I do?

Microsoft have stated that the best thing to do if you are still operating a Windows 7 system is to buy a new device that is running Windows 10. Whilst it is possible to download Windows 10 on a computer that was previously running Windows 7, Microsoft have advised that this is not recommended. This is because an old system running Windows 7 may have difficulties in running a modern system in Windows 10. Techradar, for example, recommends that to effectively run Windows 10 you need at least a 2GHz dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM (8GB ideally) and a 160GB hard drive. If your computer is not up to these standards, then it might be time to speak to Curve IT Managed IT Services for some recommendations on treating yourself to a new device.

If, however, your computer does fit those requirements there are some benefits to upgrading your old system. It is the easiest solution for a start, and you are able to keep your documents in one place. You will have to buy a Windows 10 license, however, and these can be expensive to purchase, which is worth keeping in mind, especially for businesses with a large number of devices and users.

What if I don’t do anything?

Initially, Windows 7 will still run as normal. It just won’t be getting the patches each month. You can keep your computer ‘patched’ manually. This reduces the risk to some degree but devices utilising a Windows 7 system are still more vulnerable than their Windows 10 counterparts. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said that it would ‘urge those using the software after the deadline to replace unsupported devices as soon as possible, to move sensitive data to a supported device and not to use them for tasks like accessing bank and other sensitive accounts’.

How Curve can help?

The Managed IT Services team at Curve has already helped a range of businesses move to Windows 10. As well as ensuring your organisation is running an up-to-date, supported operating system, making a move to Windows 10 can also help your company deploy applications and infrastructures that will help support flexible and collaborative working practices. This includes moving to cloud based software, such as the latest version of Microsoft 365, and making use of collaboration tools such as Microsoft teams.

Contact Curve to talk about how our Managed IT Services team can help your business upgrade

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Data itself has moved from on premise servers to cloud infrastructure, challenging conventional security protocols. We have also seen huge regulatory changes in the form of GDPR.  How that data should be dealt with, given the potential outcomes for a breach of GDPR, are key issues for businesses throughout Europe. All this has occurred at the same time the work force has become more mobile, with employees wanting to work from anywhere and to use their own devices for work purposes. The majority of this change has taken place in the last five years. An incredibly compressed timescale, which is still accelerating!

The role of business digital connectivity

One of the key answers to these issues is connectivity. Businesses are currently having to refocus IT spend and expertise away from servers and workstations and into networks, connectivity and the cloud. In basic terms it is imperative to have access to superfast and reliable networks and WiFi in offices, a superfast and reliable internet connection out of the office and superfast and reliable cloud services to connect to. You also need great business digital connectivity everywhere so the workforce can securely access those cloud services from wherever they happen to be. In essence, connectivity is an issue that affects a business ability to run itself at all times.

This change has largely been driven by highly connected cities and campuses where innovation is not being held back by slow internet connections. This is a world where specialist teams can collaborate seamlessly across continents. Working live on huge data sets and pushing forward our knowledge and understanding at the precipice of technology in fields such as AI, IoT, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, climate and everything in between.

A time for investment

But what about everyone and everywhere else? What happens in the smaller cities, towns and villages that are still waiting for proper digital connectivity to arrive?

How do we improve their connectivity experience? How do we stimulate the innovation and productivity gains our businesses are capable of?

How do we offer the high speeds at super low prices that start-ups and micro businesses require? How do we support the fibre connectivity that large businesses (and increasingly smaller ones) require to link sites?

Investment in the networks is the natural conclusion to these questions. It is undoubtedly the answer to creating access for smaller businesses or businesses outside the major cities.

The public and private sectors should work together to deliver an investment strategy that creates an equality of opportunity for businesses to access the burgeoning opportunities superfast networks can provide.

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Inclusive Connectivity equals Digital Inclusivity

Local authorities and other public bodies need to consider the best way of making connectivity as accessible to as many citizens as possible. In built-up, urban environments for example, where full fibre provision is already in place, it is now typical for local authorities to run public WiFi networks that ensure citizens can access superfast broadband with ease. A range of previous incentives have been available to encourage the roll-out of these networks.

In more rural areas, where the provision of superfast broadband itself is less common, this naturally becomes the first hurdle to overcome. While there are a number of centralised initiatives to ensure superfast connectivity outside of urban areas, including continued work by Openreach, this is one area where special co-operative groups, consisting of local bodies and businesses, can work to develop their own digital strategy. And this might not necessarily involve expensive cabling work either. For example, point to point communications can be used to create network coverage in rural areas by establishing a line of site connection between the nearest fibre availability and the desired location.

A Joined-Up Approach

Major connectivity projects require a joint will and a collaborative approach in order to succeed. This joined-up approach can involve a variety of models, including the possibility of public ownership of the fibre network itself. While this might stop short of some of the headline grabbing proposals of recent weeks for a UK wide, government owned free broadband network, a number of local authorities have led the way by leading projects with the help of public sector funding, such as the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) backed Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) Challenge Fund. This includes local authorities such as Nottinghamshire County Council.

Other examples of collaboration include the role of regional co-operatives, such as the Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CIN), which brings together public and private sector organisations to create and share new digital infrastructure in and around Tameside and Blackpool.

Even if public ownership of the final network is not the ultimate goal, a joined-up approach to digital full fibre infrastructure can create a number of benefits. This might be cost savings generated by coordinating major projects that involve roadworks and disruption so that duct and cable laying can be factored in at the same time – often referred to as a ‘dig-once approach’ – through to shared use of the final network in order to maximise its positive impact on the community. This might include using the fibre network for a range of ‘smart city’ initiatives, from widespread CCTV coverage to the delivery of digital telecare and telehealth services over superfast broadband, something that is becoming increasingly important as the population ages.

Ultimately, it is the provision of fibre infrastructure itself that is critical to underpinning the majority of initiatives centred on digital inclusivity. The more joined

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Here at Curve IT, much of our recent work has been focused on the provision of full fibre infrastructure and the development of converged networks and wireless connectivity at individual sites.

With buildings – and construction projects themselves – likely to get even smarter in 2020, let’s look at these areas in turn.

Wireless connectivity

The next-generation standard in WiFi technology is WiFi 6. Previously known as 802.11ax, until the WiFi Alliance wisely gave it a somewhat catchier name, the standard supersedes WiFi 5, on which most current devices and routers run. As the Alliance explains, WiFi 6 offers higher data rates, increased capacity, greater performance in environments with many connected devices, and improved power efficiency.

It’s that third point that we’re particularly interested in. Whilst WiFi 6 has a much higher theoretical speed limit than its predecessor – 9.6Gbps as opposed to 3.5Gbps – those top speeds are unlikely to ever be encountered by most consumers. Indeed, most consumers won’t need those top speeds, at least with current devices and demands. However, performance improvements when multiple connected devices are running on the same WiFi network will be noticed – because in an era of smart buildings and Internet of Things (IoT) technology – the number of connected devices in the average home or office environment is going through the roof. Thanks to WiFi 6, the possibilities for genuinely smart buildings will expand dramatically in 2020.

WiFi 6 was introduced by the Alliance in September and will be rolled out in earnest in 2020. A number of WiFi 6 routers and access points, including those from Ruckus, are already available, for businesses who wish to dip their toes in these high-performance waters.

Full fibre rollouts

Despite the recent election and the continued spotlight on Brexit, full fibre broadband roll-out will have its fair share of attention over the coming twelve months. The Conservative manifesto reiterated its pledge to bring ‘gigabit-capable’ broadband to the entire UK by 2025, with £5 billion allocated to the final 20% of hard-to-reach areas.

It is clear that full fibre broadband has transitioned from being a niche concern and has become a genuinely public one. And rightly so. In today’s interconnected world, high-performance broadband is no longer a nice-to-have – it is part of critical national infrastructure.

Nevertheless, its presence in the recent UK election underlined the cost and complexity involved in rolling out full fibre broadband across the entire country. This is why Curve IT is so passionate about innovation when it comes to superfast broadband delivery. From working with local authorities to implement a ‘dig once’ philosophy – whereby new full fibre roll outs are combined with other construction and infrastructure projects, such as utilities installations and new road layouts to reduce expenditure – to encouraging broadband projects driven by regional public and private sector co-ops, we believe that a creative and flexible approach is needed to advance the connectivity cause in 2020.

Smart buildings

Smart buildings gained much greater traction throughout 2019, as the public became increasingly familiar with devices like the Amazon Echo and Google Home, and homes across the country were encouraged to install smart meters. This journey will pick up speed in 2020, thanks in part to WiFi 6, as outlined above.

But it is on the commercial side of buildings that connected technology is likely to have a truly dramatic impact in the next twelve months. Consider major office buildings which can deploy smart lighting and heating systems in order to save energy. Or build-to-rent projects which can deliver truly integrated, seamless connectivity for their residents, from the lobby to the top floor and even into other buildings managed by the same company. We expect to see possibilities like this considered much earlier on in the construction process in 2020, as property developers and construction managers realise the benefits that can be wrought by having a ‘smart buildings’ approach that utilises a converged network approach from day one.

A technology first approach

How to summarise all of these predictions? Thanks to enhancements to wireless technology, we expect approaches to building connectivity to become increasingly embedded in project planning in 2020. Superfast broadband and smart building systems will move away from being considered ‘add-ons’ at the end of the construction or upgrade project, and increasingly be ‘baked in’ from the start. Smart technology infrastructure for the built environment in 2020 will no longer be an optional extra – it will be integral.

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