The blog for smart businesspeople
Friday, 11 September 2026
That's Food and Drink: Could the Mobile Shop Be Ready for a Comeback?
That's Food and Drink: Could the Mobile Shop Be Ready for a Comeback?: There was a time when the shop came to you. Mobile grocers, butchers, fishmongers and other travelling shops were once a familiar sight in B...
That's Food and Drink: Could the Mobile Shop Be Ready for a Comeback?
That's Food and Drink: Could the Mobile Shop Be Ready for a Comeback?: There was a time when the shop came to you. Mobile grocers, butchers, fishmongers and other travelling shops were once a familiar sight in B...
Tuesday, 8 September 2026
That's Food and Drink: VAT’s the Problem: Why Hospitality is Campaigning ...
That's Food and Drink: VAT’s the Problem: Why Hospitality is Campaigning ...: Britain’s pubs, cafés, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses are being urged to unite behind a campaign calling for the VAT r...
Monday, 7 September 2026
Multi-network SIM technology supports sensitive remote surveillance by private eyes and others
The company designs and manufactures its own covert cameras, apps and supporting technology for professional investigators, surveillance teams, law enforcement organisations and councils.
Its equipment can be deployed for both short-term and long-term operations in urban, rural and remote locations.
The Covert Group has worked with KeySIM for four years, and its connected equipment is now used by hundreds of private investigators.
Reliable connectivity is vital during surveillance work. Authorised users must be able to access footage, manage cameras and respond to changing operational requirements without visiting the deployment site.
However, covert cameras are often installed in places where fixed broadband or Wi-Fi is unavailable. Mobile coverage can also vary significantly, making a SIM card tied to a single mobile network unsuitable for many operations.
The Covert Group selected KeySIM’s unsteered multi-network IoT SIM, which can connect through Vodafone, O2, EE and Three in the UK, as well as participating networks overseas. This gives deployed equipment a better opportunity to establish and maintain a mobile connection, even when the strongest network cannot be identified beforehand.
KeySIM’s cards are installed in Teltonika routers connected to The Covert Group’s cameras and applications. Authorised investigators can use the KeySIM VPN and the SIM’s private IP address to access and control the router and associated equipment remotely.
Teltonika routers can also receive SMS commands, providing an alternative way to control or reconfigure equipment if the normal data connection becomes unavailable.
Another important consideration is the possibility that covert equipment may be lost, damaged or discovered during a deployment. KeySIM operates without a minimum contract, enabling The Covert Group to cancel a subscription immediately if a camera or router cannot be recovered.
Vernon Griffiths, founder of The Covert Group, said connectivity was a critical part of the company’s complete surveillance system.
“If equipment loses its connection at the wrong moment, vital footage can be lost or become inaccessible, which can have serious consequences for an investigation,” he explained to That's Business.
Graham Robinson, Managing Director of KeySIM, said the combination of multi-network access, secure VPN connectivity, private IP addresses and SMS control gives investigators several ways to communicate with deployed equipment.
For The Covert Group, bringing together purpose-built cameras, supporting applications and flexible connectivity provides surveillance professionals with a practical system designed for the unpredictable conditions encountered during real-world investigations.
Rural Broadband Adopts KeySIM for Flexible Countryside Connectivity
Dix has over 40 years of experience in computing and communications technology. His interest began when he acquired a Sinclair ZX80 in 1980, at the dawn of the home computer revolution.
He became a Mac user in 1989 and subsequently developed extensive expertise in computer support, mobile broadband, fixed connectivity, event Wi-Fi and broadcasting.
In 2000, Dix established Rural Broadband from his former family farm in Heacham, West Norfolk. This rural background gave him first-hand knowledge of the connectivity difficulties facing homes, farms and businesses situated beyond the reach of dependable fixed-line services.
Today, Rural Broadband specialises in delivering internet access in places where conventional solutions are unavailable or unsuitable. Its services include mobile broadband, fibre-to-the-cabinet solutions and temporary Wi-Fi for businesses and events, including festivals and county shows held in fields and other challenging locations.
Dix is also a director of West Norfolk community broadcaster KL1 Radio and is involved with local information platform Town and Around.
KeySIM provides Rural Broadband with another flexible tool for temporary installations. A single SIM can connect to Vodafone, O2, EE or Three, removing the need to carry and swap several network-specific SIM cards.
Through KeySIM’s Network Steerer, the SIM can also be remotely directed towards a selected mobile network. Its pay-per-megabyte pricing model is particularly suitable for temporary internet services, occasional assignments and equipment that only connects intermittently.
“For temporary internet access, events and ad hoc work, KeySIM is a great option,” Dix told That's Business.
“We can arrive with one SIM that has access to Vodafone, O2, EE and Three instead of trying to predict which network will work best.
“That flexibility is particularly valuable in the countryside, where coverage can change considerably from one location to another.”
Graham Robinson, founder of KeySIM, said Dix understood that there was no universal answer to rural connectivity.
“KeySIM gives him another practical tool, particularly for temporary installations and ad hoc work where access to all four major UK networks through one SIM can make a real difference,” he explained.
The collaboration brings together Dix’s technical experience and understanding of rural communities with KeySIM’s flexible approach to mobile connectivity, helping Rural Broadband respond more efficiently when reliable internet access is required at temporary, remote or unpredictable locations.
Sunday, 6 September 2026
That's Food and Drink: Could a Powerful El Niño Give the UK a Severe Wint...
That's Food and Drink: Could a Powerful El Niño Give the UK a Severe Wint...: After a summer of remarkable warmth, thoughts are inevitably beginning to turn towards winter. And this year there is a particularly intere...
Wednesday, 2 September 2026
Pressat and SWNS Partnership Opens Businesses to 65 Regional News Websites
The partnership introduces an optional distribution circuit through which Pressat clients can have their press releases published on 65 regional news websites.
Content will appear as a clearly identified branded feature for sharing company announcements.
For businesses, regional visibility can be valuable. A national campaign may generate broad awareness, but coverage tailored to particular towns, cities and regions can help a company reach customers, partners and stakeholders closer to the markets it serves. It may also benefit international organisations looking to build recognition and credibility among UK consumers.
SWNS was founded in the 1970s and has supplied breaking news, features, photographs and other multimedia material to publishers for around 50 years. Its longstanding relationships with national and regional media organisations underpin the distribution option now available to Pressat users.
“The UK media market is highly competitive, and visibility in this region is crucial for any organisation looking to grow, whether they are based here already or international firms looking to reach UK consumers,” Alison Lancaster, CEO of Pressat told That's Business.
“This partnership with SWNS gives our clients a direct route into some of the most trusted regional media outlets in the country.”
Martin Winter, managing director at SWNS,told us: “We have been supplying trusted news content to publishers for 50 years. By working with Pressat, we’re enabling brands and businesses to connect with readers through established, respected platforms.”
Pressat has operated since 2010 and has developed into one of the UK’s leading press release distribution services.
The platform disseminates content and images, helping organisations reach journalists, publishers and audiences.
The new collaboration broadens that offer by allowing users to add regional online placement to their campaigns. As the resulting articles are branded features, businesses should regard them as a complement to traditional media outreach rather than a substitute for independently selected editorial coverage.
Nevertheless, for organisations that want greater reach, a stronger regional presence or more opportunities for their announcements to be discovered online, the partnership could provide a useful additional route to market.
The new SWNS distribution circuit is now live and available to Pressat users. Further information is available from Pressat https://pressat.co.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)