A Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) survey has revealed a huge appetite for broadband but continuing frustration about the lack of progress towards full provision.

Following recent criticism of Government rural broadband initiatives by both BT and the Countryside Agency, the survey, which had 2,676, responses, showed 32 per cent of non-broadband users would sign up as soon as the new technology became available.

Just 17 per cent had no plans to use broadband in the future.

Peter Scargill, the FSB's IT chairman said: "Small firms in particular derive huge benefits from investing in IT but the lack of fast, always-on internet access is preventing them from taking the leap to trading online."