Business broadband needs ‘ignored’ by Digital Britain

There are clear benefits in the Digital Britain report for broadband consumers but the effects of its proposals are less straightforward for businesses, it has been suggested.

According to telecoms network provider NetServices, increased best mobile broadband coverage and speed is good news for home media users.

However, company Chief Executive Mark Vickers told Computer Weekly that issues revolving around connection quality and reliability are more important to smaller enterprises, which make up the bulk of the UK’s business broadband users.

“If market penetration is to increase, it will do so when business users can work from home with these criteria met,” he suggested.

Outgoing Communications Minister Lord Stephen Carter has admitted that the lack of coverage given to business broadband in the 240-page Digital Britain report was a “weakness”.

Following publication of the report on June 16th, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) welcomed the government’s commitment to universal pay as you go mobile broadband access, but warned that universal speeds of 2Mb by 2012 would be insufficient for many businesses.

John Wright, National Chairman of the FSB, cited research from the organisation indicating that more than a third of small firms already have 2Mb mobile broadband speeds but struggle to complete day-to-day business activities online.