As technology advances, the connectivity needs of businesses change and grow. Unfortunately, other UK telecoms companies lack the agility to adapt their services to this ever-changing landscape. They would rather keep customers in the dark about the infrastructure they are using, so they stay complacent with the status quo.

At Vorboss, we think that's wrong, so we'll dive into some of the most common myths that UK telecoms companies perpetuate. A lack of transparency in the industry prevents businesses from getting the connectivity they deserve—connectivity that will fuel their ambitions.

Misconceptions about the UK telecommunications industry

Myth #1: Each ISP has its own fibre network

You may believe that each Internet Service Provider (ISP) has its own dedicated fibre network. In reality, most ISPs in London resell legacy Openreach infrastructure rather than relying on a network they built. This leads to unreliable connections and slow speeds for their customers.  

Vorboss is the only ISP in London that has purpose-built its fibre network from scratch, using the latest technology and design. We are the only vertically integrated ISP dedicated to business in London, owning the network and service end-to-end. This gives us complete control and responsibility over our network, delivery, infrastructure, and customer experience.  

Unlike other ISPs, we have no third parties involved at any stage of the process. Our in-house team handles everything from customer service, contracts, billing, installation, network design, and more. Customers deal directly with the engineers who built the network, ensuring quick response times for fault rectification, installations, and bandwidth upgrades.  

Because we own the network, we can provide transparent pricing and commercial terms. There are no hidden costs or extra charges; the bandwidth you purchase is the bandwidth you receive.  

Myth #2: Legacy networks are the most secure

Another misconception in the telecommunications industry is the belief that legacy networks are inherently more secure than AltNets. Telecoms companies claim that their older networks are more secure than their competitors, but the truth is that the age of a network does not determine its security level.  

We understand the importance of network security at Vorboss. We designed our brand-new network with the latest security measures to ensure the highest level of protection for our customers' data.  

Unlike legacy fibre networks that use on-street infrastructure, which can be vulnerable to vandalism, weather, power failures, and traffic damage, we deliver direct cable connectivity to eliminate these risks. We have diverse routing options to ensure resilience, and no one is ever more than 0.5 miles away from a Vorboss engineer in Zones 1-2. We also have 24/7 proactive network monitoring and operational support from experienced network and security operations professionals.

No network is ever 100% secure, regardless of whether it's a legacy network or a newer one. Security is determined by the measures to protect the network, not by age. So, the belief that legacy networks are inherently more secure is a myth.

Myth #3: No one really needs 10Gbps bandwidth

Many mistakenly believe that businesses don't need to have 10Gbps bandwidth. Why, then, are we at Vorboss trying to make 10Gbps the new standard in speed and capacity?

For London to remain a global leader, its businesses must be future-proofed. Bandwidth consumption is constantly growing – data requirements are doubling every two years – so limited bandwidth will quickly start holding back the companies driving our city's economy. They need to be able to use emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, to remain competitive.

Businesses can focus on innovation, transformation, and gaining a competitive edge by removing bandwidth concerns. We understand that some companies may not need that much bandwidth right now, but we provide it on purpose so they will never have to worry about running out in the future. Connectivity should never be a limitation for business growth.

If your business uses 1Gbps, then it uses a legacy product. The network these internet service providers use would need substantial upgrades to provide what Vorboss provides – 10Gbps as a minimum, with the capability to quickly ramp up to 100Gbps on the same network. We invested £250m into a brand-new fibre network designed for forward-thinking organisations' current and future needs.

Selling less than 10Gbps doesn't make sense to us, as it doesn't cost us any less to provide you with less bandwidth. ISPs charging incrementally for bandwidth consumption are exploiting customers to maximise profits. We don't constrain or manufacture bandwidth, and we provide purposeful abundance and transparency in pricing to our customers.    

Myth #4: ISPs have the right to throttle your internet speeds

Throttling refers to ISPs temporarily slowing down your internet connection speed to manage their network capacity. This practice is often associated with wireless and mobile ISPs, but even some business fibre providers use throttling. But is that allowed?  

Here's the truth – if your ISP is throttling your internet speeds, it should be outlined in your service level agreement (SLA). You have the right to be aware if you're not getting the rate you're paying for all day, every day.  

It's important to note that ISPs are required to be transparent in their approach to net neutrality and traffic management. ISPs are prohibited from prioritising certain types of traffic over others and cannot intentionally slow down your connection. If you feel like throttling tactics from your current provider are holding you back, it's time to demand more or consider switching to a reliable ISP.  

At Vorboss, we never throttle customer speeds, regardless of the bandwidth package customers choose. We believe in providing reliable and consistent internet speeds to our customers without sneaky tactics to hold them back. Besides, we offer Direct Internet Access (DIA), delivering connectivity to each specific customer via their own direct fibre connection. That means no varying speeds or sharing bandwidth.

Why you should demand more from UK telecoms companies

We have brought a new type of business-only internet and service to London, which is better and different from other UK telecoms companies. We want to lift the lid on industry secrets and call things out for the long-term health of our customers and the city.  

We envision a future where the bandwidth for any task is available, allowing businesses to explore new solutions, ways of working, and technologies in the same way unlimited data has changed consumer behaviour with handheld devices. In turn, London will be able to compete at the highest level for years to come.  

The telecommunications industry is ever-changing, and customers should always demand the best from their telecoms companies. Don't be fooled by the myths and misconceptions about them—your business deserves better.  

If you want to learn more about connecting with us, speak to one of our experts today.

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The gender pay gap is the difference between the average earnings of women and men across a workforce at a single point in time, expressed as a percentage of men’s earnings. It is not the same as equal pay, which refers to paying women and men the same wage for the same job.

Vorboss gender pay gap

The Vorboss gender pay gap report shows that we are making significant strides towards reducing the gender pay gap and increasing diversity within our workforce. In 2022, Vorboss had a -5.6% median gender pay gap, compared to the UK median gender pay gap of 9.4%.

We’re proud that the report highlights our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity in all business areas. We have implemented policies that encourage women to join and stay in our workforce. We have focused on improving diversity within our field-based roles, which are historically male-dominated within the industry.

Our CEO, Tim Creswick, comments, 'We grew our team dramatically during the period, yet I'm pleased to report that we seized the opportunity to do so inclusively. While we still have a lot more we want to do, I'm proud to report sector-leading gender diversity. Whilst the pay gap figures required by law don't show the full picture, we've worked hard to ensure women are on an absolutely equal footing in our organisation.' 

It is important to mention that our 2023 data will reflect our emphasis on improving diversity in lower and middle roles. We need to focus on hiring and progressing more women into leadership roles. Although our report is very positive for 2022, we acknowledge that work is still to be done.

You can read the full 2022 gender pay gap report here.

This blog is part of a series of techUK interviews platforming inspiring women in tech. The series aims to call out gender bias, expose industry barriers, and spotlight the importance of a diverse tech future.

Women make up almost 40% of the build and installations team at Vorboss, so they are undoubtedly an influential part of the company. Their successes highlight the possibilities that arise when telecoms companies create inclusive, gender-balanced workplaces.

This is an interview of Caprice and Acacia, two of our inspiring Vorboss installation technicians. They serve as fantastic examples of flourishing women in tech.

Women in tech: interview with installation technicians Caprice and Acacia

Were you always interested in the telecoms industry, or were you drawn in by Vorboss and the diversity they offer?

Caprice: I’d say both to be honest. I like doing jobs where I’m busy and get to use my brain. This job was perfect, as I liked that there were good opportunities for women, and it’s something that I’m genuinely interested in. Before I started, I didn’t even know what chambers were (the covers you see on pavements where fibre cables are stored). Now I’m able to tell my grandparents about what they are and what they’re for, which is cool.

Acacia: I think having diverse teams is incredibly important, as you get more variety of views and people have different ideas and experiences. There’s always been another woman on my team with me at Vorboss, which is nice.

When did you join Vorboss? Can you give us an insight into your day-to-day job?

Caprice: I started in September. I work Tuesdays to Fridays in the field. Sometimes we could be blowing fibre through a subduct, other days we could be rodding and roping a route. Every day is different; it’s never the same, but it’s always exciting, and I’m always happy to go to work.

As this was your first job in telecoms, was training available to you?

Caprice: There was lots of training. There were also lots of people on standby to support me if I needed anything. I joined the Vorboss Academy—an accredited in-house training programme—which was eight weeks long. Some of it was online training, but I also went to the warehouse training centre every day and learned things like how to safely lift chamber lids and how to splice.

Why do you think that there are more men working in this sector than women?

Acacia:  As it’s quite a physical job, traditionally people probably viewed it as more suited to men. Times have changed and women can now have a career in something that they feel suits them.

Do you feel Vorboss creates a supportive environment for women?

Caprice: Yes, definitely. For example, if there is a really heavy chamber lid, women can do it together. Women can work together on things like that. Also, they have made sure that the uniform fits for everyone. There is a uniform for women, but if women also want to wear the menswear to suit their personal preference, they can choose that also.

Acacia: We have support like period days. It’s a great help, especially as you can’t avoid having symptoms. We also have events such as women’s movie nights and women’s breakfasts where we all come together to talk about issues that we’re going through and how to make the workplace more inclusive for women. It definitely feels like a safe space to talk about things and helps to build a nice company culture.

Looking around at the people you work with, do you feel that it’s a diverse group?

Caprice: Yes, I would say so. In my team, there are actually more women than men. It’s nice to work with other women, and it feels more equal. I don’t feel belittled, and it shows that women can do a job which traditionally has been thought of as a man’s job. We get a lot of comments from pedestrians going past saying it’s nice to see women doing this job.

Acacia: It’s nice to see that a company in the industry is supporting women, and it’s inspirational for women working at Vorboss to see that they are trying to make a change. It shows that women of all ages can work as part of the installation teams, and it’s not just a role for men. Anyone can do it once they’re trained.

What sort of challenges have you faced in your role?

Acacia: There have been times where pedestrians walk past saying this isn’t a woman’s job. I don’t get that as much anymore. Vorboss is trying to encourage more women to work in the industry, and it’s becoming more normal. When things like that happen, we can go straight to our manager and are given support to make sure that we feel comfortable going to work every day. As Caprice said, there are also a lot more positive interactions with the public where we are recognised for having such a diverse team.

What’s your number one piece of advice for the future generations entering tech?

Acacia: Just go for it! If the opportunity comes up, take it with both hands and try to shine. You can learn so much!

Caprice: I’d say the same. Don’t let anything stop you or get in your way! You never know unless you try. Believe in yourself and don’t have self-doubt! Gender shouldn’t matter. There’s an opportunity for everyone.

Our people and culture team always puts equity, inclusion, and diversity first. If the Vorboss culture sounds right to you, head to our careers page to see our vacancies!

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Vorboss, London’s dedicated enterprise fibre network, announces it has appointed John Browett as our new Chair. He joins the board of Fern Trading Group, as Paul Latham retires from his position as Chief Executive at Fern Trading Group. Vorboss is backed by Fern Trading Group, which is advised by Octopus Investments.

John is a highly experienced business leader with a career spanning almost 40 years in the retail and investment industries. He has broad experience in both executive and non-executive roles, from launching new ventures, scaling up and leading both listed and well-known businesses, such as Apple Retail, Dixons Retail PLC, Dunelm, and tesco.com. His impressive track record and wealth of experience will be a valuable and vital resource to the team as we develop the business. John is well known to the company as he already sits on the board of the Octopus Group Holdings which is the parent of Octopus Investments.

Vorboss has built a unique infrastructure asset, with over 500km of fibre optic cable already installed, with the aim of being able to connect all commercial property in Central London, with 10Gbps as a minimum, extending to 100Gbps. Following three years of intensive build, the fully owned network was launched to customers in September 2022, bringing the speed and service businesses in the Capital need to drive growth and innovation. Vorboss has grown to over 360 people, many graduating from Vorboss Academy, the first in-house training facility providing the next wave of skills needed to serve an ageing telecommunications workforce.

“John joining us as Chair couldn’t come at a better time to drive forward our ambitions. I'm proud of our growing business and moving the market into a world where end-users no longer think about bandwidth. John’s depth of expertise and his counsel will be invaluable as we really start to scale,” said Tim Creswick, CEO of Vorboss.

On his appointment, John said: “Vorboss has made great strides in upending the fibre industry and I can’t wait to work with them to realise their vision of powering the Capital’s most ambitious businesses. There is no other company out there doing this and what the team has already achieved is remarkable, so it’s hugely exciting to work closely with them at this pivotal moment in their journey.”

Enquiries

Kirstie Lane, Head of Marketing

07551 572870

Vorboss, London’s only dedicated enterprise fibre network, has launched the city’s first and only off-the-shelf 100Gbps internet product to power London’s most ambitious businesses, spearheading a new standard for the telecommunications sector.

This industry-first product removes bandwidth constraints for London’s most data-hungry businesses, powering their growth and boosting London’s economy.  

Vorboss provides customers with 100Gbps for £2,999 a month, a market-leading price, guaranteed for the lifetime of the contract and with no installation fees. Vorboss owns its network end-to-end and operates entirely in-house, removing the need for brokers, wholesalers and resellers who use confusing pricing structures. This means that, unlike other providers which often have hidden uplifts and charges in their contracts, they can work directly with customers to offer a simple, transparent and competitively priced product.

“No other provider is prepared to publish a price for 100Gbps–if they're even able to provide it. Our mission is to bring transparency to London's businesses. Today we're announcing a fixed price for 100Gbps, already delivered to pilot customers. We're raising the bar for connectivity in London, and removing bandwidth constraints for the most demanding businesses,” said Tim Creswick, Vorboss Founder and CEO.

Unrivalled in scale and quality, Vorboss is investing over £250 million to build London’s only full-coverage fibre network dedicated to businesses. It maintains complete ownership of the over 500 km of fibre optic cables it has installed in London since 2019. The way that Vorboss has designed, built and maintained its network means that they have developed an efficient way to connect new customers to 100Gbps, while also ramping up existing connections to this service. Customers deal directly with the engineers that built the network, and can deliver installations and bandwidth upgrades within days, not months.

“Owning our product end to end means that we install and maintain the connection for our customers, ensuring rapid service, market-leading price points and the quickest fibre upgrades in the industry,” said Creswick. “We are completely committed to working in partnership with our customers by offering a simple, seamless and transparent solution to their connectivity needs.”

Right now, the majority of London businesses are reliant on legacy Openreach infrastructure, which is hampering growth. Over the last decade, the reliance on technology and the shift towards cloud-based infrastructure has increased dependency and bandwidth demands which other fibre network providers cannot support. Superior connectivity will secure London’s position on the global stage while unlocking significant asset value in its office buildings.

100Gbps will allow businesses and office spaces to handle higher traffic volume, greater upload and download speeds, and a smoother integration of AI across industries.  Enhanced connectivity makes any building a more attractive place for companies to work, giving landlords a strong case for leasing. Due to its exceptional product offering and ability to connect buildings, rather than just tenants, Vorboss helped 22 Bishopsgate to secure WiredScore Platinum accreditation, the highest possible stamp of approval.

"Understanding the needs of London’s businesses means having an awareness that one size will not fit all. Our entry product of 10Gbps is the minimum sensible offering for any business. While the rest of the industry is only now catching up with that need, we have been looking ahead and building capacity to support the most data-intensive customers. We are the first to market with 100Gbps. Our ambitions mirror that of the businesses we support,” said Humza Bobat, Head of Network Infrastructure.

Enquiries

Kirstie Lane, Head of Marketing

07551 572870

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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 100 Gbps. 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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