Connectivity is the catalyst for London to become a global leader
May 21, 2025
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3
min read
Highlights
UK infrastructure ranks fifth lowest in the EU for fibre connectivity, leading to bandwidth constraints, slow speeds, and limited productivity. Vorboss advocates for better digital infrastructure, setting 10Gbps as the minimum necessary bandwidth for businesses to operate without limitations. The aim is to drive innovation and attract talent to maintain London's status as a global leader.
As we've seen yet another leadership change here in the UK and an emphasis on prioritising growth, we must recognise that world-class connectivity is critical for London’s global competitiveness. UK infrastructure lags far behind international competition, ranking fifth lowest in the EU for fibre connectivity. If the UK is to compete on the world stage, we need to ensure the City’s infrastructure can keep up with that growth.
Bandwidth constraints mean that slow speeds and freezing video calls are all too common, and ultimately limit productivity, but why? Faster connectivity – 10Gbps and beyond – is possible right now. 10Gbps isn’t widely available because incumbent providers are looking to protect their margins, or because their network hasn’t been built with that capacity.
Currently, most London businesses are reliant on Openreach, meaning they are all essentially buying connectivity from the same infrastructure asset, even if they are purchasing through a reseller. These legacy structures have led to poor customer service, inflated, inconsistent pricing models and overly complex installation processes. This results in a product not fit for purpose.
All of this is hampering productivity and restricting the growth of our economy. We need superior digital infrastructure to ensure businesses are not held back by something as basic as their bandwidth.
Our network is dedicated to business users only. We do everything ourselves in-house. Operating in this way removes the need for the resellers that are a precondition for accessing Openreach infrastructure. We deliver 10 Gbps as the new minimum standard, and can quickly ramp a business up to 100Gbps business internet. For any other supplier to do this would require them to rewire their entire network from scratch.
More needs to be done on an industry level to safeguard London from falling behind competitively. There are three actions which will unlock the potential of London’s businesses:
1. Connectivity has become an essential utility. In abundance, connectivity will enable growth and power the shift to London becoming a smart city. Companies must have access to a purpose-built fibre network, designed purely for businesses, without the distraction of catering for residential consumers.
2. Make 10 Gbps the mandatory minimum standard for business connections, so bandwidth should never be an issue. We will all come to expect it sooner rather than later. It should be the norm now.
3. Champion a new business model for telecoms built on great service, resilient networks and open, transparent contracts with customers.
For London to continue as a global leader, a hub of innovation attracting the best talent, and driving investment in our capital, businesses must be able to operate without limit. If we don’t get serious about removing bandwidth limitations, with the same focus that we look at removing other factors restricting business growth, we risk London falling further behind. It’s time for a step-change in the industry, and we’re proud to be at the forefront.
By Tim Creswick,
Chief Executive and founder of Vorboss
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London, 17 July 2025
Vorboss, London’s leading fibre network built exclusively for business, today announced the expansion of its managed services portfolio, reinforcing its position as the trusted single provider for the city’s enterprise connectivity needs. This strategic move reflects the growing demand for comprehensive, resilient services from a single, expert partner – particularly in light of the increasing complexity of cybersecurity threats and IT infrastructure.
- London businesses can now consolidate connectivity, managed services, and cybersecurity, backed by the fastest fibre network built exclusively for businesses
- Completed acquisitions of 40fi (cybersecurity) and Optimity (managed services), and strategic investment in Layer8 (network management for commercial real estate)
- 80+ new specialists join Vorboss, expanding total workforce to nearly 400
As part of this strategy, Vorboss has closed three acquisitions designed to broaden its capabilities beyond its core strength in managed network infrastructure. Among these are 40fi, a respected cybersecurity business, and Optimity, a leading provider of managed IT services. Together, these acquisitions bring an additional 80 experienced professionals into the Vorboss team, significantly enhancing the company’s ability to deliver end-to-end solutions for London’s most demanding businesses. Vorboss is excited to welcome the hundreds of customers that Optimity and 40fi serve across the UK today, and look forward to continuing the high levels of customer service and technical expertise currently provided.
This expansion addresses a clear and urgent need from Vorboss customers: the ability to consolidate connectivity, IT, and security under one accountable provider. By integrating cybersecurity expertise and managed IT services capabilities into its offering, Vorboss is now uniquely positioned to provide a comprehensive suite of services – spanning secure network infrastructure, endpoint management, threat mitigation, and strategic IT and cybersecurity consultancy.
Tim Creswick, CEO of Vorboss:
“Vorboss has a long history in managed services, but for the last 6 years, our focus has been on delivering the best enterprise fibre network London has ever seen. That has been a huge project, commanding millions of hours of labour from our team, and we are now connecting thousands of business customers to that network – all at 10Gbps and above. I’m excited that we’re now able to return to some of our managed services roots, with the timely addition of cybersecurity services. These are things that our customers and partners ask us about all the time. As operators of extensive, high-capacity infrastructure, we have a huge amount of real expertise in-house already, so customers know that they’re getting advice from real practitioners, not just consultants.
The addition of the Optimity and 40fi teams gives us some immediate scale to address those customer needs, with the same vertically integrated, high quality approach that they’ve come to love from us”.
In addition, Vorboss has also invested in Layer8, a first-of-a-kind software platform enabling building operators to automate, manage, and monetise their networks. Designed for commercial real estate environments, Layer8 gives building managers, managed service providers (MSPs), and non-technical users simple, secure control over on-site network infrastructure.
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London’s still the UK’s economic engine and one of the most innovative cities on the planet. But what’s keeping it ahead? And what needs to change to make sure it stays there?
Recorded live at Vorboss HQ during London Tech Week, this panel brought together influential figures from tech, property, and investment to talk recent news, the challenges businesses face, and the biggest opportunities shaping the future of London’s economy.
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