A Galashiels firm is opening up the opportunities of high-speed internet to businesses across the Borders and other rural areas across the UK.
SoConnect was founded by Campbell Fraser in 2011, along with the directors of two other Borders businesses, Qube GB, and EBS/Inforgen, based in Galashiels and Peebles respectively.
Its aim is to provide businesses throughout the UK with the best internet connectivity available and the choice of hosted and cloud-based applications to help their business run more efficiently at less cost.
Mr Fraser said: “We know modern businesses need high-speed internet to grow, and in the Borders we are working in partnership with a number of organisations to deliver higher speed internet to businesses.
“Fibre to the cabinet is now a reality, delivering up to 80Mbps, and is now available in Peebles and Galashiels. Where these services are not available, satellite broadband is now a real alternative, delivering 20 Mbps in any location.
“SoConnect have provided these services to several businesses who now experience high-speed internet for the first time and it is making a real difference to how they can now manage their business.”
Having effectively started from scratch in May 2011, SoConnect has secured over £1.5m of contracts.
Mr Fraser said: “Applications such as hosted telephone systems, instant messaging, video conferencing and hosted email and customer relationship management allow small businesses to access applications that were previously not affordable because of the large capital investment required.
“SoConnect now contracts directly with the customer and manages all aspects of the service provision and is a single point of call for all the customers’ internet, telecom, mobile and hosted application requirements.”
He added: “2013/14 will be a very exciting year for SoConnect and we expect another year of over 50 per cent growth.”
The company reached the final four in the Borders section of the Local Business Accelerator competition run through the regional press, including The Southern Reporter.