Internet costs concern southern businesses

More than a third of small to medium-sized (SME) business operators around the country are unhappy with both access to the internet and the cost of their connection with Otago-Southland businesses the most disgruntled.

A MYOB survey, released yesterday, of more than 1000 SME business operators, 38% reported dissatisfaction with the cost of their plan while 33% were dissatisfied with internet access - speed and reliability.

Levels of dissatisfaction had remained constant over the year.

However, the survey also showed rural SMEs (44%) were more likely to be dissatisfied with their internet access compared with those in metropolitan areas (27%).

Otago-Southland-based operators were the most dissatisfied with the cost of their internet plan at 51% compared with 25% of Waikato-based operators, who had the lowest dissatisfaction levels.

MYOB business division general manager James Scollay told the Otago Daily Times the cost of internet access was the greatest concern for businesses in Otago and Southland but 44% were also dissatisfied with the speed of their connection.

The regions also had one of the lowest levels of connection to ultra-fast broadband (UFB) which the majority of businesses surveyed across the country believed would improve internet connection and reduce cost.

Just 10% of businesses in Otago and Southland currently had a UFB connection.

''If the choice was available, however, only 7% of local businesses would opt for a UFB connection because it is the fastest available, while 35% just want a faster connection than the one they have now,'' Mr Scollay said.

At a national level, 19% said they were connected to UFB, up from 14% in March.

SME business operatorswere asked what benefits UFB had or would have on their business.

The main gains were associated with speed and reliability.

Add a Comment