VoIP News: Broadband

BT has objected to demands from Ofcom that it slash the cost of its wholesale business broadband prices. Ofcom claims BT should reduce the amount it charges rival internet service providers (ISPs) for the use of its lines by around 4. 5 per cent.

The village of Marton is set to benefit from new fibre optic business broadband - an infrastructure improvement that is expected to transform the prospects of the isolated rural community. The first fibre-optic business broadband switching cabinets will be installed in March of this year and town officials, businesses and residents are looking forward to benefiting from high-speed internet connections.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom is vying to simplify the consumer and business broadband switching process by creating a new body to deal with transitions. It is hoped that the move would stop firms from temporarily losing their internet connections or having to pay two providers simultaneously while their original contract expires. Ofcom wants the process of switching to be streamlined, as well as cracking down on the practice of switching without consent.

A star of television show Masterchef has joined the campaign to have state-of-the-art business broadband technology deployed in East Anglia. Series finalist Tim Kinnaird has added his support to a new website promoting the town of Swaffham, where the need for improved internet is one of the major issues, reported the Eastern Daily Press. Mr Kinnaird said the internet is crucial to his business, a baking company named Macarons and More.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman has reiterated the coalition government's commitment to boosting rural business broadband - which will allow the universal adoption of VoIP solutions and hosted telephony. Speaking at the Rural Roadshow, the first for Spelman, the minister said supporting rural economies was a top priority, hence the large amounts of cash the government has set aside for companies in remote communities.