The BBC could play a major part in the next step of broadband in the UK, it has emerged.

Communications minister Lord Carter, in a speech to MPs this week, responded to a cynical question from Conservative MP for Bromsgrove Julie Kirkbride regarding "whose pocket we could pinch from" to fund the newest generation of internet access.

Lord Carter said: "Is there a role for the BBC? Possibly, is the answer to that."

He added that given the increasing demand for media from the internet, one-fifth of such consumption could be gained entirely from the internet.

Lord Carter justified: "If that's the case could you not see the nation's state-funded content provider having a role? It would seem to me you would."

He added the government would also provide IT support to major players in the telecommunications industry, such as BT.

Last week, BT convinced Ofcom to allow it to charge rivals whatever price for access to its future £1.5 billion fibre internet network after intensive lobbying.

More than half of small businesses (53 per cent) believe that the most important benefit of outsourcing is guaranteed response times for IT support. London-based Connect conducted the research in 2007.