Last week, thousands of businesses across the UK were left without internet access due to major disruptions with Virgin Media. For many, this meant an entire day of lost productivity, frustrated customers, and financial setbacks that could take weeks to recover from. As UK businesses rely on a stable internet connection, a drop in internet connection isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a serious business risk. So, is there anything businesses can do to prevent being affected by internet outages? There sure is! Let’s talk about business internet back up solutions.
What happened with Virgin Media?
On February 24th Virgin Media experienced a significant outage that left thousands of UK businesses without internet access, with nearly 10,000 users reporting issues. According to techradar.com the issue began around 9:00am with Virgin Media acknowledging the problem, stating they were aware of intermittent issues and were working to resolve them promptly. By 5:00pm, the company announced that services had been fully restored for all customers.
You read that right, that’s an entire day of business potentially lost due to an unforeseen internet outage. The recent Virgin Media outage underscores the critical reliance of UK businesses on stable internet connectivity.
The need for reliable business internet connectivity
The UK is home to over 5.5 million businesses, and the vast majority rely on internet connectivity for daily operations. From retail and hospitality to finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, a stable internet connection is crucial for everything from processing payments to customer communications, cloud-based software, and remote work.
The financial ramifications of internet outages are substantial. According to industry reports, an hour of internet downtime can cost a small or medium-sized business (SME) upwards of £900, while larger enterprises can lose tens of thousands of pounds per hour. A full day without internet can result in lost revenue, missed opportunities, and operational chaos.
A recent report revealed that in 2023, UK businesses collectively endured over 50 million hours of internet downtime, resulting in financial losses exceeding £3.7 billion - a significant increase from £742 million in 2018, highlighting the escalating dependence on digital infrastructure.
For small and medium-sized enterprises and larger businesses, even brief disruptions can lead to significant revenue losses, decreased productivity, and potential reputational damage.
The cost of internet downtime in perspective
- Retail & E-commerce – Businesses processing online transactions risk losing thousands in sales when their internet goes down.
- Financial Services – Without access to trading platforms or secure banking systems, firms in finance can see huge losses.
- Healthcare – Clinics and hospitals rely on cloud-based patient records and telehealth services, making downtime critical.
- Construction & Manufacturing – Supply chains and project management tools depend on uninterrupted connectivity.
- Professional Services – Accountants, solicitors, and consultants working with cloud software and VoIP phone systems face massive disruptions.
Given the profound impact of connectivity issues, it's imperative for businesses to implement reliable internet backup solutions to avoid downtime if and when another unexpected outage happens. The good news is that having a failsafe in place doesn’t have to break the bank. With DF Communications, businesses can secure an internet backup solution for as little as £20 per month—a small price to pay compared to the potentially thousands of pounds lost in just a single day of internet downtime. Whether it’s lost sales, halted operations, or frustrated customers, the cost of an outage far outweighs the investment in a reliable backup. A small monthly fee ensures seamless connectivity, uninterrupted productivity, and complete peace of mind.
How does a business internet back up work?
An internet backup, also known as a failover connection, ensures that if your primary internet connection drops, your business automatically switches to a secondary connection. This can be a 4G/5G router, leased line backup, or alternative broadband provider, keeping your operations running without disruption.
At DF Communications, we specialise in providing comprehensive internet backup solutions tailored to the unique needs of businesses across Aberdeen and the North of Scotland. Our services are designed to ensure uninterrupted connectivity, even in the face of primary service disruptions.
We already provide reliable internet backup solutions for businesses across Aberdeen and the North of Scotland, and can assist you too with:
- Automatic failover – No downtime, no loss of service.
- Seamless transition – Staff and customers won’t notice a difference.
- Flexible connectivity options – 4G/5G routers, alternative broadband, and leased lines.
- Proactive monitoring – We ensure your system is always online.
How much does a business internet back up cost?
You might assume that implementing a backup internet solution in your business is costly, but in reality a reliable failover connection can be set up for as little as £20 per month with DF Communications.
The actual cost depends on factors such as the type of backup connection required and the specific needs of your business, but our expert team can help advise the best solution for your needs and to keep costs low.
When compared to the financial losses caused by even a few hours of downtime—let alone an entire day—the investment in a backup internet solution is minimal. Lost revenue, disrupted operations, and potential reputational damage can all be avoided with a simple, cost-effective solution. DF Communications works with businesses across Aberdeen and the North of Scotland to provide tailored backup solutions that ensure uninterrupted connectivity, so you never have to worry about being offline when it matters most.
Do not wait for the next outage
If you don’t have a back up in place, or if you’re unsure whether your business has a fail-safe set up already, now is the time to act.
The team at DF Communications offers a free, zero-obligation system review where our experts will audit your existing telecoms and internet setup. We’ll identify areas where you can improve, recommend cost-saving solutions, and ensure your business is protected from unexpected downtime.
Don't let unforeseen outages jeopardise your business operations. Contact DF Communications today to schedule your free system review and discover how we can secure your business internet connectivity.
