Northern Ireland Broadband Superfast Fibre Broadband in Northern Ireland

But now, thanks to the next generation broadband network being deployed across the region by BT on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, even greater economic benefits are quickly becoming evident.

One company that has already seen a tangible uplift in its competitiveness as a result of the impact of super-fast broadband is Warrenpoint-based JR Annett.

The business has been manufacturing pictures and mirrors since 1980 supplying furniture retailers across Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

JR Annett had broadband installed in 2007 which enabled it to have an internet presence making the company more accessible to existing and potential customers. The broadband service meant JR Annett could expand its marketing capability by using e-newsletters for monthly updates on special offers and to highlight new product ranges.

Building the business

In July this year, the business entered the UK market with broadband being at the heart of that expansion – enabling it to build up its operation cost-effectively. 

For example, e-mailing catalogues provides significant savings compared to printing and mailing them to the UK.

However, JR Annett’s broadband speed, 4 Mbps, was causing it a few problems. In particular, it was becoming difficult to upload good quality images in a fast and efficient manner on to the company website. This became very frustrating, especially given JR Annett is in the image business where quality of image is everything.

But then, in October 2010, the company switched to super-fast, fibre optic broadband and everything changed.

Video power

Whereas in the past it would take between 30 and 40 seconds for a single image to load on the website, it now uploads straight away. Videos, which were impossible to upload properly beforehand, can now be put up onto the site with ease. The company now has plans to feature a selection of videos which explain the design process behind products as well as the products themselves.

And where catalogues had to be reduced in size and quality in order to make them suitable for e-mailing, they can now be sent across, full-sized in five minutes. 

Previously it would take up to two hours to send. 

Being able to send out catalogues and details of new products far more quickly, which provides a competitive advantage over competitors, is one example of how super-fast broadband has already made a tremendously positive difference to JR Annett’s business. The company is poised to continue to save money, improve customer service and win more business.