Ref : 06/00
Date : 9 February 2000

"Small businesses are still missing out on the advantages of the telecommunications revolution" is the message of a speech to be delivered by David Edmonds Director General of Oftel to a business audience at Leeds University later today.

Mr Edmonds will highlight the need for small businesses to be more aware of the new high-speed data information services which are becoming available to all businesses as a result of rapid advances in telecommunications technology.

Research to be published later in the year by Oftel will reveal that small businesses are still missing out on the commercial potential of the Internet and e-commerce.

70 per cent of small businesses regularly use the Internet for e-mail but only 25 per cent sell over the Internet and only 50 per cent use the Internet to buy or order goods.

David Edmonds will also tell businesses that effective competition in the telecoms sector has increased the range of telecoms services available to help businesses compete more aggressively.

He said:

"Telecoms services are a key input to business success and of growing importance in the information age and digital economy.

"Many small businesses believe that they are the last in line to benefit from competition in telecoms. In fact, major telecoms operators are increasingly focussing on small businesses as a key growth development market.

"Oftel is working to help businesses on a number of different fronts. Current issues include encouraging different charging options for the Internet; introducing carrier pre-selection to allow businesses to select different companies to carry local, national and international calls; and improving quality of service information provided by telecoms companies.

"Businesses are an important group of telecoms consumers. Oftel is determined to ensure that they get the best deal."

Mr Edmonds speech will also include details of the work of Oftel's Small Business Task Force and outline future developments to help businesses.

Notes to Editors

1. David Edmonds will be speaking as Guest of Honour at the Leeds Woodhouse Group dinner, Leeds University at 7pm on Wednesday 9 February.