If the internet is to become the main way entertainment such as TV and radio are accessed, the public may have to accept higher broadband charges, according to an industry expert.

The launch of the BBC iPlayer has led some broadband providers to lobby the corporation to pay more for the internet because of the product's popularity, but Andrew Ferguson, editor of thinkbroadband.com, has said that the providers themselves should be clearer about what people are using the technology for.

Mr Ferguson commented: "Some broadband providers need to come clean with their advertising about what they expect people to use their connection for."

"At the end of the day, we, the general public, may have to accept that if our broadband connections are becoming our main entertainment medium at home then we may need to pay more to use it this way."

He added that if broadcasters make information available for free, some people may stop using peer-to-peer networks.

The news follows comments made by business start-up company Startup Co last week stating that websites are a cost-effective and time-efficient way for small businesses to increase sales.


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