Ref:05/01
Date: 14 January 2001

Many businesses shop around and change suppliers in order to take advantage of the telecoms services available and get the best deal on offer, new research published by Oftel today reveals.

The research, based on Oftel’s quarterly survey among 700 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), has found that:

• a third of small businesses have switched mobile phone companies, rising to half of medium businesses, to save money and for better network coverage, customer service and support;

• a quarter of small businesses and three-fifths of medium businesses use more than one fixed telephone company; and

• around a third of both small and medium businesses connected to the Internet have switched Internet Service Provider, with the majority finding the process easy.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications said today:

"More and more small and medium sized businesses realise there are some good offers available from telecoms providers, and that it is not difficult to change telephone company in order to get the best deal.

"The right telecoms service can save money and boost sales through swift and effective communication with customers and staff.

"If businesses need further advice on how to take full advantage of the many services on offer, they should visit www.TelecomsAdvice.org.uk, the independent website set up specifically for this purpose."

The quarterly survey forms part of Oftel’s ongoing programme of research, feeding into policy work and market reviews.

Also published today are findings from a series of interviews with SMEs on their use of the Internet and e-commerce and from a workshop held with members of Oftel’s Large Business User Panel on their use of telecoms competition and services.

Notes to Editors

1. The research published today comprises five reports and is published on Oftel's website.-

• Use of fixed line services among small and medium enterprises is at www.oftel.gov.uk/research/2001/fix0101.htm.
• Internet use among small and medium enterprises is at www.oftel.gov.uk/research/2001/int0101.htm.
• Mobile phone use among small and medium enterprises is at www.oftel.gov.uk/research/2001/mob0101.htm.

• SMEs and the Internet – qualitative research report is at www.oftel.gov.uk/research/2001/sbir0101.htm.
• Large business use of telecoms competition and services is at www.oftel.gov.uk/research/2001/lbup0101.htm.

2. Hard copies of all Oftel reports are available to the media from the Press Office on 020 7634 8991 and to the public from the Research and Intelligence Unit on 020 7634 8761.

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