UK businesses want 4G services to be made available as soon as possible, according to a new study by network provider Everything Everywhere.
The report, carried out by research firm Coleman Parkes and commissioned by Everything Everywhere, found that 93 per cent of UK businesses want the technology deployed at the first available opportunity.
Ninety-four per cent of respondents also claimed the UK needs 4G networks to remain competitive and protect jobs.
Everything Everywhere is locked in a battle with other mobile providers over its plans to push ahead with its 4G rollout, ahead of schedule, by reusing spectrum it already has in the 1800MHz region.
Over 1,000 UK business decision makers took part in the research and 86 per cent of them believe access to 4G networks would increase their business productivity.
Nearly a third (29 per cent) of respondents said the ability to engage with customers and colleagues through mobile TV, video conferencing, and through CRM applications is the main benefit they expect from 4G.
Over half (52 per cent) cited greater levels of flexible working as another expected benefit of 4G. Meanwhile, 27 per cent of respondents said the ability to securely update and access documents in the cloud will benefit them most when 4G becomes available in the UK.
Brian O'Connor, group IS director of construction firm Morgan Sindall Group, said his company had several construction projects on the go at any time and a huge mobile workforce.
"For this reason, amongst others, we believe a usable 4G network would provide a major improvement to critical information flows within the construction industry," said O'Connor.
Martin Stiven, vice president of B2B at Everything Everywhere, said UK businesses need 4G networks to help them be more productive and compete on the international stage.
"Half of the countries on the G20 list of the world's biggest economies already have 4G, leaving British businesses at risk of falling behind rivals," he said.
