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Businesses express caution over future broadband supply
Some 83 per cent of firms do not believe their internet service provider can meet their future broadband needs.
A poll of 100 IT decision-makers commissioned by the business broadband outfit found 83 per cent do not believe their existing internet service provider (ISP) can fulfil their ongoing requirements.
However, more than three-quarters of respondents believe a reliable broadband line will prove critical to their future operations.
The study also threw up some surprises regarding the factors used by companies when choosing a business broadband package. While many ISPs are concentrating on offering improved speeds, almost half of those surveyed said reliability and customer service are more important than download and upload capabilities.
Two-thirds added they are more than satisfied with their existing connection speeds, which Powernet claimed is evidence that employers are no longer overly worried about getting access to faster broadband.
Price was only found to be the primary motivator in selecting an ISP for 14 per cent of decision-makers, with 75 per cent satisfied with the amount they currently pay.
However, a fifth of respondents expressed a note of caution about their provider, believing them to be more focused on making money than delivering great service.
Tony Tugulu, chief executive of Powernet, said the study highlights a number of growing trends in the industry.
He argued: "In the rush to offer faster and faster services, too many business ISPs are neglecting what UK businesses actually want - reliability and customer service.
"If ISPs focused more on putting in place the infrastructure that guaranteed a reliable, always-on service, the level of satisfaction would surely be greater."
The findings about broadband speeds conflict with a recently conducted survey from Somerset and Devon county councils, which revealed three-quarters of businesses in the latter region believe they would be helped by an improved capacity on their internet connection.