Businesses in the UK have sounded a plea to the government, making their feelings known on the time-scale of a next-generation broadband network roll out.

According to a recently-conducted survey by the communications industry organisation CMA, 95 per cent of firms quizzed think that the government should waste no time in setting about constructing a broadband network for the 21st century.

This has to be done, say the organisations questioned, in order to push the UK back into the top ten of broadband nations.

CMA chief executive, Glenn Powell, said: "This shows the urgency with which the measures proposed by the recent interim Digital Britain report are needed.

"We welcome the measures proposed in Lord Stephen Carter’s report which we believe, if implemented, will enable British companies to remain competitive in the current tough economic climate."

The study also hinted at the affect of the rise in mobile broadband use – 64 per cent of respondents said that they had noted an increase in mobile workers.