UK.biz in the dark over broadband jargon

More than half of businesses baffled

By Startups.co.uk • Get more from this author

Posted in Small Biz, 5th November 2004 13:00 GMT

Free whitepaper – PowerEdge M1000e, M600 and M605 spec sheet

UK small businesses are becoming increasingly baffled by telecoms terminology, a new survey has found.

The survey, by Tiscali business services, revealed that over half of 250 businesses polled are confused by jargon and acronyms used to market telecom systems.

Almost two thirds found it difficult to compare various broadband solutions, leaving businesses clueless as to what would best suite their needs.

Figures also show that 38 per cent of businesses are using basic consumer broadband, a figure that increases to 49 per cent among those with ten employees or less.

Tiscali argue that such a choice does not supply businesses, of any size, with the type of bandwidth, technical support and security that they require.

Nathan Francis, general manager of Tiscali business services, said: "Broadband offers many benefits to small businesses.

"However, if they aren't getting to the right broadband package to support their specific business needs because of confusing technical jargon, it is a bad thing for everybody concerned, the supplier, the carrier, the UK economy and most importantly the small business."

When asked if they believed their broadband choice to be the best, most cost-effective solution, just over half of businesses could give a positive response.

Francis said, "Educating small business to ensure that they get to the right, most cost effective broadband solution for them must be the priority of suppliers to this sector and the UK government."