British Telecom believes every business in Sussex will have access to broadband internet by the end of next year, despite the low level of current take-up levels.

Speaking at a conference in City Place, Gatwick, Patricia Vaz, BT regional director for the South-East, said employers needed to be made aware of its benefits.

She said: "The message needs to move away from the technological aspects of broadband and concentrate on the nuts and bolts of how business runs.

"We need to tell managing directors how they can save money and increase productivity by using broadband to introduce flexible working."

Addressing an audience of 50 business leaders, she said high-speed internet would play an integral role in accelerating economic prosperity in the region.

She added the South-East currently has 12.6 per cent usage, compared with a national average of 10.1 per cent, but in relative terms that is not good enough.

She said: "The South-East, bar London, is the biggest economy in the country so really we should not be comparing ourselves with the rest of the UK.

"We should be looking at comparable economies in places like Scandinavia where the majority of businesses have taken up broadband."

Ms Vaz called on the public sector to lead by example and cited West Sussex County Council which was using broadband to allow people to work from home.

The South-East currently has broadband coverage of 95 per cent compared with a national average of 90 per cent but, she warned, there would be difficulties reaching maximum coverage.

One of the main problems was in rural communities which were beyond the 6.5km reach of internet broadband cables. Here alternative solutions such as radio and satellite broadband were being looked into as well as installing specially extended cables.

BT's ambition to achieve blanket coverage of Sussex by September next year was underlined on Tuesday when it relaxed its policy on introducing broadband to new areas.

Last year the company set "trigger levels" in dozens of Sussex villages, which required people to sign up before it introduced the high-speed internet service.

Now the targets have been dropped and villagers in Brightling, Peasmarsh, Burwash, Ripe, Etchingham, Robertsbridge, Glynde, Rotherfield, Guestling Green Guestling Thorn, Rushlake Green, Iden, Staplecross, Ninfield and Ticehurst will be able to have the service. Alfriston, Buxted and Framfield have also reached their targets and can have access.

Thursday May 20, 2004