The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG) has spoken out against new proposals to reclassify broadband as a utility and put the sector on a par with water, gas and electricity. Matthew Evans, chief executive at BSG, argued that reclassifying broadband as a utility may result in higher prices in the long run, while investment in networks may also be reduced.

Northern Ireland's government has confirmed it is to make a major investment in broadband infrastructure that it claims will put the country's telecoms on a par with the rest of the UK. Enterprise minister Arlene Foster revealed that £17 million is being ploughed into the Superfast Rollout Programme, with BT put in charge of the project's delivery.

The government's business broadband voucher scheme should be extended so that rural companies can also access the scheme, a new report by MPs recommends. According to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, the current programme is "unbalanced" due to the fact that only organisations in urban areas can access the money.

Firms in many parts of the UK have a limited number of options for their business broadband supply. According to the head of Fujitsu's carrier division Bill Mackenzie, companies need to do more to learn about what choices are available to them.

Companies across Manchester are to be given access to superfast business broadband speeds following a successful campaign. Hundreds of people signed a petition calling for providers to deliver improved services to the north-west city and suppliers have now confirmed they will be rolling out the technology soon.

The government's scheme to improve business broadband connections by offering firms vouchers has been predicted to fail. According to Cotswolds Broadband chief executive Hugo Pickering, the government has not successfully promoted the project so many organisations remains unaware of it.

Many companies are open to switching to another business broadband provider and are considering their options. According to the new TalkTalk Business Value of Business Broadband survey, around one in five small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are currently looking for a new broadband supplier.

Small businesses with slow and unreliable connections to the internet are losing money as a result, according to new research by Citizens Advice. A survey of 2,000 small companies by the organisation found that more than half of firms would lose money if they were not able to get online.