BT has announced it is developing new enhancements to its business broadband service to help firms cope during catastrophes.

The broadband provider has enhanced its Next Generation Contact Centre provision, which means that employees from call centres can work from home or other remote locations if extreme weather, industrial strikes or virus outbreaks hit their organisations.

According to BT, the broadband service can become live when required and can either be used as a stand-alone package or implemented alongside existing business technologies.

Neil Sutton, vice-president of global portfolio for BT Global Services, said unexpected events can "bring a contact centre to its knees".

He added: "Advances in BT's on-demand contract centre technology and self-service customer relationship management tools, as well as trial offers, will put businesses in a stronger position to tackle any unforeseen events and benefit from cost savings."

BT recently claimed its fibre-optic broadband network is currently available from exchanges servicing 40 per cent of UK homes and business and predicted this will reach 55 per cent by spring 2010.