VoIP solutions may become more popular in Northumberland

Businesses in Northumberland may choose to invest more heavily in voice over internet protocol (VoIP) solutions in the future.

This is because the local authority has submitted a final bid for superfast broadband to funding agency BDUK as part of a commitment to enhance services across the county.

Northumberland County Council has signalled its intention to meet a government requirement to match an indicative total of £7 million for broadband improvements and obtain a commercial partner to work with it on backing a long-term programme of enhancements.

VoIP technology runs more effectively on superfast broadband connections and the iNorthumberland bid takes the form of a Local Broadband Plan that proposes a "whole county" approach to developing internet services.

Firms in Brighton and Hove may also adopt VoIP technology to provide them with affordable and high-quality calls after the Argus reported campaigners in the East Sussex city are calling on the government to improve broadband infrastructure on the south coast.

Lobby group Let Brighton Bid wants culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to permit it to apply for the location to become one of those to receive the fastest connections, despite it falling short of the 150,000 premises required to submit a bid.