Only nine per cent of firms use broadband

Less than 10 per cent of businesses are using broadband technology, despite lower costs and improved availability.

Oftel figures reveal that only nine per cent of companies with web access have taken up digital subscriber lines (DSL) or cable modems. Just 30 per cent of the UK's 380,000 DSL connections are commercial.

Politicans, experts and business leaders say the main problem for Broadband Britain now is selling the benefits of high-speed connectivity.

Nationally only 2.3 per cent of BT's DSL lines are used, which means 97.7 per cent of available broadband is not taken.

Small businesses are paticularly slow to take up the technology with only 3.6 per cent having high-speed internet connections.

Ecommerce minister Stephen Timms told Computing: 'The recent surge in interest in broadband is great news, but there is more to do to drive take-up across the country.

'The arrival of new and exciting content will play an important part and so too will connecting public sector buildings.

'The Regional Broadband Unit will be working hard to ensure that connecting places like schools and libraries has a positive knock-on to homes and businesses.'

Confederation of British Industry head of ebusiness Jeremy Beale said: 'Enhanced content, such as audio and video, downloads and file transfers are only the elementary stage for business take-up.'

The bigger picture must be sold, he suggested.

And Federation of Small Business national IT chairman Peter Scargill said: 'Small businesses have yet to justify the costs because there is a lack of understanding of the benefits.' said Scargill.