In order to help consumers improve the speed of their broadband connections, Ofcom has published a guide to internet speeds for people across the country.

The connection speed people have when they are online is affected by a number of things, according to the communications regulator, which added that it is not simply down to the internet service provider or the deal it offers.

Ofcom noted that factors as simple as the distance between a home and its telephone exchange can impact on internet speeds.

A video guide is also available on the internet and looks through some other key issues, such as the price and quality of service.

Ofcom has also been looking into the viewing habits of millions of TV users across Britain, with digital video recorders being noted as a particularly popular investment.

The ability to record hundreds of hours of TV on bigger memory stores has been pivotal in creating this viewing trend, it asserted.

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).