Lack of access to Broadband technology could have serious consequences for businesses which are being urged to learn more about this method of internet communication.

To this end Britain's place in developing it is being championed by the University of Bath in Swindon.

It is hosting a quiz in the town to question why British businesses are lagging so far behind their European counterparts when it comes to high-speed access to the World Wide Web.

Broadband, the technology that enables computer users to keep their PCs permanently on-line and access the internet many times faster than via a traditional dial-up modem, is readily available to a large proportion of the continental business community.

But despite the Government's efforts, the UK is still well behind the rest of Europe and the G7 countries in taking up Broadband.

Mike Nutley, editor of the magazine New Media Age, will play quiz-master to a panel of Broadband users and a panel of providers at the Oakfield Campus, Marlowe Avenue, Walcot, on October 17.

The event is being organised by interACTIVE, a 63-member strong interface between the University of Bath and hi-tech businesses.

Phil Merrick, project manager of interACTIVE, says the high-profile panellists are such experts in their different fields that he expects both frank debate and some nationally important questions resolved.

"The impact that the lack of Broadband access will have on British business could well prove devastating," he says.

"Companies that need to access the internet are hugely disadvantaged compared with those in other European countries.

"We need to address this problem urgently to ensure our small businesses and teleworkers are not losing out to foreign competitors.

"This will be a lively and fun event, but will be addressing an issue which we in this country cannot afford to ignore any longer."

The business broadband users will quiz the providers on why Britain is falling behind, who is to blame and, most importantly, what is being done about it.

The event is open to anyone interested in the Broadband issue, and is free.

For more details or to register, email p.merrick@bath. ac.uk or go to http://www. bath.ac.uk/bsc/interactive/html/calendar.htm.

Just 14 per cent of UK households use a broadband connection compared with 45 per cent in Germany and 22 per cent in France.