Businesses back the need for high speed broadband

The vast majority of businesses believe that a high-speed broadband network is essential for Britain to compete in the global economy, a leading organisation claims.

According to research by the Communications Management Association (CMA), 94 per cent of companies want the government to bring high-performance telecommunications to all parts of the UK.

Equally, 95 per cent of businesses said that Britain must act quickly to hold its position in the top ten broadband nations in the world.

Glenn Powell, chief executive of CMA, said: "This shows the urgency with which the measures proposed by the recent interim Digital Britain report are needed."

"We welcome the measures proposed in Lord Stephen Carter's report which we believe, if implemented, will enable British companies to remain competitive in the current tough economic climate," he explained.

The report also indicated that 76 per cent of companies perceive cutting carbon emissions as an important goal, which Mr Powell said is a "validation" of British industry's "efforts to reduce its environmental impact".

Registered charity the CMA was founded in 1958 and currently represents the interests of its members to various industry stakeholders, such as government, regulators and suppliers.