The ever increasing demand for high-speed broadband internet connection has led to media regulator Ofcom calling for broadband cables to be put in sewers.

IT services have seen a big increase in the frequency of online video content use, according to a report in the Guardian.

Last summer the average speed of the UK broadband network was 4.6MB per second compared to advertised speeds of 90MB in Japan and the regulator believes Britain needs to keep up.

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief executive, said: "I believe that superfast next-generation broadband will come to change our perception of communications radically, alongside mobile broadband it will in time have a similar impact upon our society and economy as we have seen with first generation broadband. We must prepare now."

Aberdeen University has already made the decision to use sewers to provide braodband access to its campus, utilising H20 networks FS Focus System (Fibre OpticalCable Underground Sewer System).

The idea has also been used in Paris, where it was described by Mr Richards as a "remarkable success".

If surveys prove the existing duct network to be workable, the rollout costs are forecast to be between £7 billion and £15 billion.

According to a recent survey by Connect, the two biggest IT headaches for businesses were 'everyday hassles with IT' (37 per cent) and 'security concerns' (32 per cent) In a recent survey of SMEs for Connect, the two most important benefits of outsourcing were 'guaranteed response times' and 'allowing in-house IT staff to concentrate on more strategic issues'