Paying more for broadband 'could pay off'

Businesses and consumers in the UK could find that paying a little extra for their broadband service is worth it in the long-run.

Michael Phillips, product director from Broadband Choices, said that the industry tends to compete on the basis of cutting prices to very low levels.

"One of the results is that ISPs will cut back on service levels to try and make those very low cost levels profitable," he said.

A recent survey from uSwitch found that there is a 21 per cent gap in customer satisfaction between the best and the worst providers.

The report also revealed that more than eight million broadband users are unsure whether they are on the best value deal for their requirements.

"Certainly I would encourage all consumers to take into account the findings of our survey and the uSwitch survey, and potentially pay more for their broadband to get a better customer service experience," Mr Phillips added.