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How to enjoy stable internet prices, while others suffer with price hikes

It appears that beginning in April, the monthly rates of more than a million customers who use mobile phones and the internet would increase by over 14%. These customers will be affected by this change. According to an article published by the Guardian, this will put even greater strain on household budgets that are already being pushed to their breaking point by the general rising costs of living.

Large telecommunication providers such as BT, TalkTalk, Three, and Vodafone are permitted by contract to increase their costs by the same amount as inflation (as assessed by the December CPI) plus an additional 3% to 3.9%.

There are a number of industry analysts who believe that, if the price hikes are fully passed on, home internet customers will be required to pay an additional fifty pounds per year, and those who have expensive mobile phone contracts may be subject to hikes of more than one hundred pounds. Because these are price hikes that occur within the term of an existing contract, they will impact not just those persons who are in the market for a new contract but also almost everyone who utilises these services. Find more tips for saving here.

The good news is that even though these price increases are written into contracts, if you’ve completed the minimum term, there’s nothing preventing you from negotiating a lower price before the increase takes effect, which could result in you paying less in April than you do now. If there’s no headway in the negotiation, don’t worry, you can find better deals with us. 

At Gigabit we have a no price-hike guarantee, unlike other providers! This is one of the many reasons why we are considered the internet champions of the midlands.

How to upgrade to Gigabit

Here are the simple steps to switch to GigaFast broadband; a more reliable and consistent pricing service.

  • First, confirm that you are actually contract-free. Check all emails from your current Internet Service Provider, or call them and inquire.
  • If you are contract-free follow this link to check if your address is available for service.
  • If you still have a contract, call the service provider and tell them you want to cancel. You can be sure that they will try to find out why you want to leave. When you tell them you’ve found a better deal, they may try to keep you by making you similar deals. What’s the point of managing a bad service that changes all the time just because it’s cheaper for now?

4 Must-Have Gadgets For PC Gamers

Technology has a marvellous impact on the gaming industry. Regardless of whether you are young or elderly, casual mobile players or trophy hunters, gaming has something that will attract your attention. The feeling of a racing heart and the gratification obtained from the victory can be immensely pleasurable. 

So, from cutting-edge consoles to top-of-the-line accessories, these are the best gaming gadgets to enhance your home-gaming experience:

HyperX Cloud Alpha (£89.99)  

This late version of HyperX Cloud Alpha S is a great deal. The HyperX Cloud Alpha builds upon the ground-breaking Dual Chamber Drivers design and will give your audio more distinction and clarity by reducing distortion. It is super comfortable and sounds awesome with its certified detachable noise-cancellation by Discord and TeamSpeak™.

HyperX Cloud Alpha S is multi-platform compatible with in-line audio controls, so serious gamers on PC, PS4™, Xbox One™ (and other platforms with a 3.5mm port) will benefit from the bold sound of the Cloud Alpha evolution. Impeccable sound quality, and excellent performance, make this gadget the ideal choice for users who game for hours on end.

You should also consider running an internet speed test to check how much internet bandwidth you have available this can affect your sound quality.

Redragon K585 DITI (£42.99)

Anyone trying to convert from console gaming to PC gaming can make their life easier with this gaming keypad. The Redragon K585 Wireless Diti Elite can help the transition from gamepad/analog stick gaming to keyboard/mouse gaming. 

The build quality is top-notch, as this half-hand keyboard is equipped with the most essential parts, such as blue switches and 7 programmable macro keys. There is also a magnetic wrist rest and a detachable USB type c connector. The RGB is vibrant and the keys aren’t super glossy with just enough texture to stand up to sweaty hands! 

The Redragon K585 Diti performs all the necessary tasks a gaming session needs. Clearly it is an excellent gaming keyboard for a fraction of the price. 

This gadget is highly responsive, thus Gigabit connectivity will be a perfect for it’s outstanding performance. Definitely a must-have!

Razer Kiyo Pro Webcam (£89.99)

Razer Kiyo Pro is an impressive webcam that can record video in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second.

It is twice as expensive as the previous Kiyo but it is undoubtedly a far better webcam. All you need is a good internet connection for your calls or streams and this gadget will handle the rest. 

The Kiyo has a high-performance adaptive light sensor and autofocus to support the lighting setup or condition you have so that even the darkest room will look good on camera! Plus, you can make your stream pop with more vibrant colours by activating HDR at 30FPS. It can ramp up your video’s dynamic range while correcting over and underexposed areas. 

The Razer Kiyo Pro is a significant leap ahead and definitely what you need for perfect live streaming. All you have to worry about now is your internet upload speed so you can achieve maximum video quality.

Elgato Stream Deck (£139.99

Stream Deck integrates your tools and automatically detects your scenes, media, and audio sources, enabling you to control them with a quick tap of a key. These LCD keys can trigger anything you set them to – including launching OBS for broadcasting, Twitch, YouTube, TipeeeStream, or XSplit. 

This stream deck can also perform several other tasks, like switching between multiple webcams or opening other applications while in-game. Everything you need is at your fingertips.

So, why are good gaming gadgets important?

Gaming is definitely for anyone, but if you wish to grow your pro skills, you need to have the necessary tools and internet connection to help you stand out against the competition.

If you wish to be a true pro gamer you must set the bar higher every time and not rely on outdated methods. This also applies to your internet connection. 

Low latency, fast download and upload speeds, what more can you want? Just #GameWithGiga.

3 Reasons Why Gigabit Internet Can Boost Your Creativity

Happy National Creativity Day! 

Embrace your creative energies and let today be all about where they will take you. 

There are multiple ways to increase creativity, especially with many conveniences offered in this digital era. The internet has become an essential tool for development and has enabled creativity tools to push the boundaries of what is digitally possible. 

Here are three reasons how Gigabit Internet technology has improved exponentially to boost creativity in today’s society:

Gigabit Internet Improves Productivity

You certainly know that the internet invention has provided us the ability to cultivate ourselves.

All we should do is practice and develop our talents by making time for it. It is even considerably cheaper to improve, as the Internet has lowered the cost to be creative.

Gigabit connection is ultra-reliable, which allows you to try multiple platforms and even operate them simultaneously. 

Do you want to edit a video? You can use iMovie, InShot or CapCut. These platforms can provide you with shortcuts and templates so that you can edit your video instantly. 

If you’re looking for a beginner tutorial to show you how to get started with iMovie, you can find a great one here.

Need to design an ads for your marketing campaign? You can use Canva or Design Wizard. They’re simple to use and don’t need any design experience.

The internet has brought several tools for faster, more efficient creation. It provides simplicity and convenience for you to explore. Leading to higher productivity so you can learn, create and sell your inner talents. Nowadays people are not talking about abilities but speed. It is more about how you are willing to try and improve.

However, do you know that on average people at work can lose 44 minutes per week due to poor internet connection? Just make sure you are not one of them! Make sure it’s running properly so that your creative juices keep flowing and productivity keeps soaring. 

Internet Provides Multiple Tools To Learn and Support Your Creativity

The internet has no boundaries and triggers a desire in many of us, to learn new things. All you have to do is devote yourself to improving your creative skills. Set a goal, make an effort, and commit to it. There are multiple platforms available to find your creative feet. The digital age has allowed everyone to be a creator.

YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest are served as launching pads. You can learn from them and share your creations easier than ever before. Creativity has become so accessible to everyone. 

Gigabit Internet Leads You to New Opportunities

Working with creativity means that you have to continually challenge yourself to advance your abilities.

It can involve finding new tools or tackling a new project. The Internet can help you connect with new people who share your passion.It supports you to find new audiences, making it easier to reach those who will enjoy or need your creations.

Do you want to sell your artwork? You can go to Etsy, Amazon Handmade, Redbubble or Saatchi Art.

Or do you want to sell your skills and help companies with their artwork? Working on their logo, website or branding? You can check 99designs, Fiverr or UpWork. Expose yourself and develop your creative skills. Creativity is a faculty that allows people to go beyond capacity. It is up to us to make good use of it.

Want to know how Gigabit Networks can help you boost your creativity? Use our postcode checker to see if we are in your area!

4 Reasons Why Healthcare Needs Reliable Internet

There are many obvious advantages if we think about how the internet is influencing the healthcare sector. Efficiency is the first word that would come to mind, amongst many others. 

Technology’s main purpose is helping and improving our way of living; so it goes hand in hand with a doctor or nurses key objectives. 

Let’s take a look at some of the reasons on why healthcare needs reliable internet:

  1. Advanced Care Management 

Sensor-fed data can be used to send alerts to patients and caregivers in real-time, so they can take prompt action. For example, wearables can record heart rate, sleep, perspiration, temperature and activity.

Broadband allows providers to incorporate devices to track the growth of wearables because the data collected by the device fills in the gaps in the EHR (electronic health record). 

Care teams can get insight-driven prioritisation and employ internet-connected devices for chronic disease home monitoring. This is just another way for caregivers to be present in the lives of their patients.

  • Improved Patient Health

The best way to visualise this is by taking the example of a wearable gadget such as a watch, that alerts you when your heart rate is abnormal or if you neglect to take care of yourself in some way. This information would be shared with other devices as you go about your life. 

Full fibre Internet would allow for data transmission, ensuring that every small detail is considered to make the most advantageous decisions for patients by updating personal health data on the cloud and eliminating the need to enter it into EHRs. 

  • Home Care and Patient Monitoring

With video-based consultations for care and management of medical equipment in the home, the ultra-reliable internet allows for greater health monitoring as well as provision of in-home care. 

The goals of such exercises are to aid in the early diagnosis of potential health problems such as heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and diabetes, as well as to reduce the need for clinical intervention and expensive hospital stays. 

  • Potential of Remote Surgeries

As the Internet continues to expand and drive innovative ideas, some scientists are already working on the concept of doctors delivering remote surgeries through the use of internet-connected robots.

If this idea was to become true, doctors could be available to people in literally every corner of the world which would be a massive help disadvantaged people or those who aren’t able to travel.

However, before we get there, the infrastructure for ultrafast full fibre speeds needs to be widely available and Gigabit speeds must be much more common.

High bandwidth is critical for a variety of health applications – particularly those that require real-time video or huge medical or biomedical images to be transmitted.

Aside from high bandwidth for individual data-intensive activities, high aggregate bandwidth is required to handle a large volume of moderately data-intensive applications, such as big medical record transfers. 

The reliability and security issues with data are unavoidable, so securing a trustworthy internet service provider can drastically influence the healthcare system. 

That’s why it’s safe to say that our GigaFast Business product would be the most suitable, promising speeds of up to 1Gbps. 

From hospitals to small, local practices we have packages to suit any organisation; and you can check them out by clicking here.

How tech kept people connected during lockdown

It’s a no-brainer that entering a global pandemic and being told that you’re not allowed to go outside, or physically interact with others anymore, would develop a sense of loneliness and isolation in some people. The extroverts were the main target, but even if you’re an extrovert, introvert or ambivert, you still need some form of connection and communication in your life, and Covid almost took that away from us.

However, technology saved us in many ways, be that professionally, academically or emotionally.

Thank you, Zoom 

What might be considered the star platform of the last 2 years, Zoom’s video conferencing powered many aspects of life. Including the work-from-home economy, remote education and virtual meetings with friends and family.

In a time of endless worrying, stress and frustration, Zoom’s efficiency and user-friendly display helped millions in the fight against loneliness as video calls brought families back together and helped to make life just a bit more normal. Ironically, communication couldn’t be easier and harder at the same time. 

All you needed to start reconnecting with people was an electronic device and good internet connection. 

Speaking of powerful connections, with GigaFast Home you can get up to 20x faster speeds than with your usual Internet Service provider. With us you can forget about laggy and pixelated video calls, especially when you want to feel your loved ones closer to you.

Check your postcode here if you want to ensure you can stay connected no matter the circumstance.

Entertaining platforms – TikTok, the virtual dance floor

Having been left with no other form of communication and entertainment, social media platforms became more populated than ever before, and long forgotten ones re-emerged in this time. 

TikTok became the new Vine.

Gen Z, millennials, gen X, even the baby boomers, they all left the seriousness and frustration aside to share dance moves, challenges and games through the app – giving many a sense of belonging and happiness all from silly on the internet together.

It’s no surprise that TikTok got to almost the same number of downloads as Instagram in just a few months. 

Music collaborations from a distance

Finally, what has the power to unite people better than music? 

Not even Covid can stop the world from finding ways to enjoy themselves. Meeting online, having virtual rehearsals, jam sessions and concerts was the way to go – and everybody loved it.

I mean…it’s music! 

Amazing collaborations happened online, funds were raised, and people danced and connected through lyrics and melodies in the unforgettable Zoom era.

Stuck with you will remain one of the most iconic Covid collaborations to support these times of our life.

Pandemic innovations 

AR and VR for online exhibits and experiences, crowd control robots, implementing UV-C cleaning and QR codes in restaurants – a lot of things about the way we live have had to change and innovate to ensure a low virus spread. 

However, innovating to keep people mentally healthy and connected with one another was just as important. 

For example, a Liverpool engineering firm developed a device that could help communities who struggle to socialise. Especially during these harsh times.

Push to talk is a similar size to a small alarm clock, ergonomically user-friendly and to have access to the service people just need a working phone line. Its main purpose is to connect people who feel lonely, so basically every time people want to connect, they just press a button and Push to talk will connect the person to another person who feels like socializing and pressed the button at the same time. It’s that smart and that easy!

Staying connected post-lockdown 

Pandemic or not, it might still be hard to connect from time to time, but technology is still playing a big role in helping us to feel connected.

We should all take advantage of the great tools we have to stay connected to one another whether that be digitally or physically, and remember not to take human connection for granted.

5 Tools to Help You Start A Company of One

Starting a business can be overwhelming, especially if all you have is yourself. From preparing spreadsheets to pitching to the client. Everything should start with yourself. It is an appealing idea for many, but figuring out how to get started will require patience and dedication. 

“It’s not about ideas, it’s about making ideas happen” – Scott Blesky 

Building a company will demand you to get ahead, it is as simple as getting started and working with modern tools at your disposal can definitely make it easier.

You just need to make sure you have a sufficient internet connection and you are all set – our GigaFast home product combines ultrafast speeds with a 99.9% target uptime, equipping you with everything you need to make your dreams a reality. 

Ready to go? Here are 5 simple business tools to help you get started.

Keep Track with Geckoboard

Running a business demands focus and Geckoboard can help you with that. This product is a business intelligence tool that specializes in creating dashboards to monitor your most important metrics and key performance indicators of your business. Geckoboard presents your data in an attractive, well-presented overview. 

This tool can help you stay aligned and will be helpful for your future team later on. 

Organise Your Tasks with Zoho Projects

Zoho projects is the ultimate project management tool that’s great for organizing tasks. This business tool helps you plan your projects, track work efficiently and collaborate with your team. 

Not only that, you can also assign responsibilities and let your future team know who’s working on what so each team member is aware of the current progress.

Zoho projects is easy to use and no download is required. All you need is an internet connection and you can register right away. After that, you can create a board for each project such as product development or campaign calendars.

Go Public with Wix

It is critical for businesses to have a website. Online presence is necessary as it promotes awareness and provides clarity of how your business can help them as customers. 

It might seem quite a hassle to create a company website, but we assure you it is not. Wix requires a minimum setup, so you can focus on creating, designing, managing and developing your web presence.

Wix has 500+ customizable website templates that are built to meet your business needs – making the process  professional yet easy with serverless computing and hassle-free coding. 

Automate Your Tasks with Zapier

Zapier is an amazing business tool that can eliminate all the repetitive tasks that slow you down. This is a software tool that connects your apps to automate certain tasks. You can build workflows without writing code meaning you never have to depend on developers for integration. 

Imagine all the apps you use for work talking to each other! You just have to make sure that your internet can run smoothly and the information will automatically move between applications with a central command from Zapier. 

Spend more time on the crucial tasks and let repetitive tasks be a thing of the past.

Build Customer Engagement with Mailchimp

Brand awareness is important, but this doesn’t mean that it can directly lead you to sales. People need trust first, which will require engagement. After gaining prospective clients, you should keep in touch with them, this is where email marketing plays a part. 

Start connecting with your audience through meaningful email content. Mailchimp can help you automate your emails at crucial steps of the buyer journey, so you can easily send out welcome emails, order confirmations, abandoned cart reminders and more. 

This business tool can support your business growth with easy-to-use design tools and flexible templates!

Focus On Being Significant and The Success Will Naturally Follow

Most people want to be successful but aren’t brave enough to make any significant moves. Having a business idea is great, but you need to know how to implement it. You can’t sit on the side-lines waiting and never invest in anything but dreaming about starting a company.

Everything is quite accessible these days, so you just need to make sure your internet connection is fully functioning and undamaged.Checking your broadband speeds is also essential to make sure you can run all the tools stated above. 

But, don’t worry, our ultra-reliable broadband technology can provide you with speeds of up to 930Mbps – up to 20x faster than the UK average.

Again, starting a business will require effort to learn and adapt. Dare to try something new and stop limiting yourself with excuses. 

Go #Gigafast and execute your business plan now. 

Has this blog inspired you to make a move? You can use our postcode checker and see if we are in your area! Still unsure? Take our quick and easy quiz to find out which home broadband package your need.  This way, every single day, you can make sure that what you’re working on is undisrupted.

Gigabit Networks supports CityFibre push for 11,000 new jobs in fibre internet

CityFibre is set to create 11,000 jobs over three years as expands its fibre network to reach 8m homes in the UK.

Gigabit Networks is a Partner and Midlands City Champion of CityFibre, which has built pure-fibre networks in 25 cities and towns such as Cambridge, Leicester, Nottingham and soon Derby.

The £4bn expansion means around 10,000 new engineers will be trained in fibre splicing, telephone pole climbing and road cutting.

The UK’s Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our £5bn commitment to bring faster, gigabit-speed internet to the whole country is key to ensuring everyone is better connected, creating jobs and powering the UK’s economic recovery from coronavirus.

“We’re working closely with firms like CityFibre and I warmly welcome their commitment to building a highly-skilled and diverse telecoms workforce which will boost growth right across the UK.”

The move comes as the telecoms industry seeks to replace slower, ageing copper lines with fibre cables has picked up.

Boris Johnson, the prime minister, has pledged that all households should be able to connect to a “gigabit speed” broadband line by 2025.

CityFibre was bought by Goldman Sachs’ West Street Infrastructure Fund and Antin Infrastructure Partners in 2017.

The massive recruitment push kicks off this month and seeks to hire more female and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) workers which the company said are under-represented in the telecoms workforce.