Naked DSL should be introduced in the UK, according to the managing director of one VoIP service provider.

Vincent Potier of Vonage says that prices on line rental for customers who just only use their telephone to access the internet are too steep and advocated allowing customers to use a phone line for broadband without the burden of expensive line fees

He commented: "If you want your BT line just for broadband, you shouldn’t have to pay £11.75.

"If you paid BT £5 a month to use their line they would still make a profit, but they are even lobbying right now to get an increase in their line rental. It just needs action from the authorities."

Customers in Norway, the Netherlands and Estonia can currently enjoy naked DSL, while it is in the pipeline in Italy.

Ofcom's reluctance to proceed with the implementation of naked DSL could drive more businesses to look at VoIP, with a survey by the Bathwick Group showing that 60 per cent of small businesses were considering investing in VoIP during 2007.