Broadband access for all is an issue of tackling social exclusion, not promoting digital inclusion, it has been stressed.

Stephen Dodson, the national director at DC10plus, made his comments at the Westminster eForum keynote seminar: Broadband for All? and highlighted the social importance of such an initiative as Digital Britain.

He explained that it is now an issue of providing answers or creating questions about social, economic and environmental issues which affect us all, with the internet serving as a central hub of access to information.

Mr Dodson added that there is now an opportunity for a "Keynesian economic investment programme" which the government could find.

He added: "We can start tackling some of these issues that affect us all… Let's join up, let's start thinking more creatively, better - make digital government become just government."

According to a recent study by the Commission for Rural Communities regarding the role of communications, the four key areas that must be prioritised are education and lifelong learning, business development, social and community cohesion, and equitable access to services.

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.