Broadband coverage in Europe 'is patchy'

UK companies and consumers are used to being able to access fast broadband connections from most destinations, either through an ADSL line or wireless.

This is lucky for business as without this infrastructure, voice over internet protocol (VoIP) would be difficult to install as a viable alternative to a fixed phone line.

But new figures from the European Commission (EC) has highlighted that much of the rest of Europe is not keeping up with the UK.

Romania and Bulgaria were found to have the lowest access to broadband, with only 6.6 per cent and 5.7 per cent of households being able to get online respectively.

While the UK is far ahead of this on 23.8 per cent, countries such as Denmark and Holland lead the way with 37.2 per cent and 33.1 per cent respectively.

Low levels of broadband adoption add a barrier to the growth of VoIP in those countries and abroad, as calls to these areas will cost more since they must travel over telecoms company-owned lines rather than just the internet.

In addition, the gap between the most linked-up societies and those who are trying to catch up is widening as adoption soars in many areas.

The EC is looking to address this widening rift, with telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding saying in a statement: "It is unacceptable that the gap between the strongest and weakest performers in Europe is growing.

"Europe must act now to get its broadband house in order."