Progress is being made to support rural VoIP users with broadband upgrades

Businesses located in rural parts of the UK are sure to be keen to benefit from VoIP in the same way as thousands of city-based firms do each and every day, but in many cases there is one significant obstacle that must be crossed.

Trefor Davies, council member at the Internet Services Providers' Association UK, explained the issue of broadband is one that is important in the countryside. He noted that it is also an incredibly complex topic at the moment, as various bodies bid to improve connections.

While he is adamant that progress is being made - potentially making it easier for rural companies to enjoy the very best of VoIP and other web-based solutions - there are also difficulties that need smoothing out.

Mr Davies went on to explain that BT is confident it can roll out superfast broadband to 90 per cent of the population if it receives the necessary funds, but at the moment it is economical only to reach 66 per cent. The aim is to make the next leap by the end of the current parliament.

"So by then, 90 per cent of the population should be able to get superfast broadband, which is 25 Mbps or better. There is progress there, but that still of course leaves the last ten per cent," he stated.

At the moment, this ten per cent typically receives a poor internet service, but things are improving and more people and businesses are joining the superfast revolution. As they do, they are likely to realise that investing in VoIP will allow them to make significant efficiency gains and compete more effectively.

For now, the pressure remains on the government and BT to deliver hi-tech internet services for the 21st century that allow firms to run the very best solutions on the market with no problems or delays.