High-speed broadband in Blackpool could improve VoIP solutions

Blackpool is to receive Virgin Media's high-speed 50 megabits-per-second (Mbps) broadband connection in a move that could improve usage of VoIP solutions.

Around 75 per cent of residents in the region own a computer and nearly 90 per cent of these people use the internet every day, so the new service could facilitate much faster downloading times as previous speeds peaked at 8Mbps, reports the Blackpool Gazette.

The faster speeds could benefit both domestic users and those that rely on the internet for their business, as the improved technology could help them run operations more efficiently.

Steve Pye, chairman of the Blackpool-based Federation of Small Businesses, told the paper: "My connection at the moment is 8Mbps and sometimes it can be a little slow and even crash. When you are part-way through putting a deal together this is not a good thing."

One of Virgin Media's chief broadband competitors is BT, which is conducting high-speed trials around the UK and investing £1.5 billion.

The government's plan to connect every UK home with a connection of at least 2Mbps has been described as lacking in ambition by some industry experts.