UK trails behind in broadband stakes
Enterprise packages more expensive in nearly two-thirds of cases, finds report
Business broadband packages in the UK cost more than in other European countries, according to a recent report.
Research firm Quantum-Web surveyed 32 European countries and found broadband enterprise packages in the UK are more expensive in nearly two-thirds of cases.
However, the entry costs to businesses throughout Europe for a 512Kbps package do not reflect the true end price.
When additional connection charges, installation and hardware are taken into account, they push up the price of broadband for businesses up to about €74.6 per month.
Ian Fogg, broadband analyst at Jupiter Research, questioned the findings, saying they do not compare like with like.
Fogg added that most businesses look for products such as SDSL, which allows faster two-way communication and data rates of up to 3Mbps. "512Kbps broadband is more common in homes and small-office environments," he said.
Fogg also claimed UK operators offered higher upstream speeds than most European countries. "Upstream traffic can save an enormous amount of time," he said.
Stuart Gibson, senior account manager for networking at reseller Repton, agreed it is hard to quantify the true cost of broadband connectivity, because it depends on individual needs and deals struck with the operators.
"There is great disparity between what is offered in the UK and what is available in Europe," he said.
Fogg admitted: "We're lagging behind in very cheap packages; Tiscali and BT are addressing this. More high-speed products like SDSL are also needed."