Claims have recently been made that the recently released Digital Britain report does not do enough for businesses in the UK in its outlines for the provision of broadband services.

The promise of a minimum of 2Mbps broadband access for every business and household in the UK by 2012 was the promise that has been given in the final version of the report, which was published on 16th June.

Many business users that are increasingly reliant on the flexible working provided by their internet connection will receive no benefits from this latest commitment that seems to focus primarily on residential broadband users, according to Paul Lawton who wrote on freshbusinessthinking.com recently.

The strategy for flexible working usually involves “the use of desktop conferencing, VoIP-based applications and MPLS networking, allowing workers to be connected into the cloud using low-cost broadband links” he explained. Although, far higher speeds and more reliable performance from these broadband services are required by these kinds of technology.

Mr Lawton went on to add “Digital Britain’s focus on downstream speeds of only 2Mbps will limit broadband’s wider use, because for businesses it is the upstream which is the limiting factor.”

For flexible internet access many business users are now introducing mobile broadband as the primary method of access the net and although this technology is currently an adequate business tool it is likely that as business becomes more demanding of both speed and reliability providers and the government will need to look at ways of implementing these factors as a way of supporting the business community.

As part of the promise to deliver universal broadband access by 2012 the report has advised that it will be looking at using a whole range of technologies that include wireless, satellite and fibre to achieve its goals.