Birmingham businesses say their internet connectivity isn't good enough and they expect the city's landlords and developers to do someting about it.
Research carried out for WiredScore, the digital connectivity ratings agency, showed that nearly two-thirds of businesses (61%) encounter problems at least once a month, while 42% experience problems at least once a week, which has a profound impact on their ability to do business.
Data showed that 88% of business leaders agree that internet connectivity should be provided as a priority and maintained by the landlord of their office buildings.
The claims come as WiredScore prepares to certify its first Birmingham buildings against a range of connectivity criteria. Landlords responsible for more than 3M SF of Birmingham office floorspace have already committed to the scheme including Ardstone, Ashby Capital, Ballymore, BlackRock, Calthorpe Estates, CEG, Hermes, Hines, LaSalle, LCR, Legal & General, M&G Real Estate, Oval Real Estate, Paloma Capital, Patrizia and Sterling Property Ventures.
WiredScore expects the volume of Birmingham floorspace it certifies to double in the next year.
"The recent announcement selecting the West Midlands as the U.K.’s first multi-city 5G test bed, making the region the first in the U.K. ready to trial new 5G applications and services at scale, along with HS2 and the government's decision to use Birmingham as a digital hub for public services, all show the city is incredibly well-placed to provide the kind of connectivity businesses need," WiredScore President William Newton said.
