Small businesses have been advised that they can get more out of their broadband service by enhancing their connection.

Regularly shopping around for the best broadband deals can give firms a better idea of where their service stands in the market and allow them to switch if necessary, according to thinkbroadband.com.

In addition, companies are advised to check what product they are using, as if there are speed upgrades available this would give them "better, more reliable internet access", which would help them when using VoIP services.

Andrew Ferguson, editor of thinkbroadband.com, said: "Broadband can be a lot cheaper than ISDN or leased lines that companies previously used, so those who adopted the internet model early will see savings.

"Those small firms embracing the Internet for the first time will obviously spend more on getting broadband access in the first place, [but they will receive] benefits such as discounts for ordering goods online, reduced postage costs from dealing with queries via email and, for those on the leading edge, the use of VoIP will further reduce telephone call costs".

Increases in broadband speed are set to encourage more people to sign up to these connections, with uSwitch predicting some 20 million UK broadband users by 2010.