VoIP News: June 2009

A broadband expert has supported the view that access to the internet is vital to everyday life in the modern world. Edd Dawson, managing director for Broadband. co.

Major internet service provider BT has said it offers similar connection speeds in Shetland as it does in other parts of the UK. Residents on the Scottish islands suffered a broadband outage last week after a fuse blew, but services resumed after a few hours and local web users were once again able to use VoIP hardware and browse the internet. Rural UK residents have faced the prospect of not being immediately included in the government's universal connectivity plans, but BT says next-generation technology will reach Shetland within about 18 months.

Investment in next-generation broadband networks will bring a range of economic benefits, according to a report from the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG). The report states that using technology such as fibre optic cabling could help produce the productivity normally associated with city clusters, while also enabling businesses to expand more easily and compete on a more advanced level, reports the Liverpool Daily Post Next-generation technology could help elevate download speeds while also producing the more efficient use of VoIP solutions.

A study has confirmed that demand for high-speed broadband services has become so acute in the UK that people are willing to pay a premium to receive it. According to a survey carried out by ISPreview, over 55 per cent of those polled said their current service is so slow that they would be willing to pay extra to get a faster connection. "[This] suggests that many existing services still fail to meet expectations despite the fact that many would be willing to pay more for something a lot faster," the website explained.

Businesses could upgrade to VoIP services during the recession as a way to insulate their operations from the impact of the economic downturn, it has been claimed. While many businesses could be put off implementing a unified communications system during the recession because of the large initial outlay required, one expert has told TMCnet that a failure to make the move now could result in longer term costs having a negative effect on business growth.