Small Business Q&A: David McDonald from Nova Broadband
>>Nova Broadband started in the broadband sector about 11 years ago. We provide wireless broadband to business and residential customers.
We use our own fixed wireless network to do that, so we’re a little bit different to the likes of the major broadband players in the market.
We started off just offering ISP to businesses but demand for the service has increased and so now we offer packages and services to residential customers as well.
>>To solve the problem of availability, we have built our own network.
This is made up of broadband transmitters in the region and if you sign up to our fixed wireless service we will install an antenna on your house or building.
It’s quite small; it’s a one foot dish which receives the broadband from our transmitters and feeds into your house or business. I have to stress that it’s not satellite broadband.
A lot of rural people will be familiar with satellite broadband, but that’s not what we’re offering.
We have masts which transmit a signal, which provides a much stronger signal than that of a satellite wireless. So we are providing a comparable service to fixed line broadband, but without the fixed line.
>>It’s been great to be able to say that we’re expanding. We have just had investment of over €250k and will be rolling out our service to beyond Munster.
Broadband, particularly in rural areas, has been a major problem.
We’ve built this network up from the ground and it’s a great feeling to know that we can now solve a problem for people which has been around for a long time. Broadband is now a staple for homes and businesses.
In particular, businesses need it so they can provide an efficient service. We have had people demand our services outside of the Munster region, but haven’t had the infrastructure in place to move on that demand. Now we can.
It will mean 20 new jobs both in our HQ in Little Island in Cork and in other points across the country.
>>That’s the plan. We are tapping into a market which has been largely neglected. We are planning to be a brand that people will known nationally, not just for the broadband service but for our customer service.
We can’t come onto the national market unless we can provide customers with what they need. That means we have to be attentive to their needs and listen when they talk.
For more information go to www.novabroadband.ie
