Reading, UK, March 3rd, 2004 --- Medium sized businesses in the UK waste more than £500 million a year on separate voice and data networks.

UK medium to large sized businesses are wasting more than £500 million every year* by not converging their voice and data telecommunications services, according to research carried out by Reading based communications company, 8el.

The report highlights that more than 16,470 medium to large businesses in the UK (companies with 100 or more employees) are currently spending over £3.4 billion per year on separate voice and data telecommunications networks. The report also highlights that telcos make significantly reduced revenue selling converged networks in comparison to selling separate voice and data services.

8el estimates that the average medium sized business could save 15 percent or more on its annual communications spend by running voice and data through the same network, which can be done without having to invest in new infrastructure. A converged network not only maximises on the use of bandwidth but also increases resilience and can deliver improved customer service. It also provides the platform for new low cost services such as mobile data access and unified messaging.

Peter Thompson, IT Manager at PSD Recruitment says,

"Since we've converged voice and data through one network with 8el, we've seen significant savings in our telecoms spending. We also get improved quality of service and a single point of point of contact."

Justin Hamilton-Martin, managing director of 8el comments,

"Telcos don't promote converged services and in most cases haven't upgraded their networks to enable them. It's not in their interest to, because they don't make as much money out of selling a single converged service. As a result, businesses aren't aware that they have an alternative to the more expensive and less reliable option of separate voice and data networks. Because 8el doesn't have to offset service costs against huge debts, we provide convergence profitably and pass the savings to end users."

For further information please contact the press office directly on [email protected] / 0845 33 000 93

*Oftel DTI figures indicate that each medium to large sized company spends on average £210,000 pa on telecoms. 8el research shows an average of 15% savings by converging voice and data services.