70 per cent of small businesses regularly use the Internet for e-mail but only 25 per cent sell over the Internet and only 50 per cent use the Internet to buy or order goods. David Edmonds will also tell businesses that effective competition in the telecoms sector has increased the range of telecoms services available to help businesses compete more aggressively. Many small businesses believe that they are the last in line to benefit from competition in telecoms. In fact, major telecoms operators are increasingly focussing on small businesses as a key growth development market. Oftel is working to help businesses on a number of different fronts.
Businesses are an important group of telecoms consumers.
Oftel is determined to ensure that they get the best deal. Mr Edmonds speech will also include details of the work of Oftel's Small Business Task Force and outline future developments to help businesses. Notes to Editors 1. David Edmonds will be speaking as Guest of Honour at the Leeds Woodhouse Group dinner, Leeds University at 7pm on Wednesday 9 February.