The EU directive detailing the need for internet service providers (ISPs) to hold consumer data for one year will officially come into force in the UK today.

Despite the start date of three weeks ago being implemented by the European Commission, ISPs in the UK now must spend £48 million a year more on the tracking of computer use in the country as a means of protecting the wider interests of the nation and continent.

Commenting on the changes, the Home Office stated that such crimes as the murder of Rhys Jones last year would have been more difficult, if not impossible to solve without access to such information.

It said earlier this year: "Communications data is the what, where and when of communication and plays a vital part in a wide range of criminal investigations and prevention of terrorists attacks as well as contributing to public safety more generally."

The news follows a report by uSwitch.com which found that internet users are particularly unhappy with the service they are receiving from ISPs.

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.