Less than one- third of Irish businesses have broadband internet access and many that don't are unable to upgrade their systems because of a lack of service availability, a new survey shows.

Just 29 per cent of Irish companies have broadband internet access, while one-third still use a dial-up connection, the survey released yesterday by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) showed.

Of the 601 small and medium-sized companies surveyed, three out of 10 had failed in their attempts to upgrade their internet access to broadband mainly due to a lack of availability of services in their area.

The CCI called on the Government to support a campaign to stimulate investment in broadband networks across the State. It said that many businesses were missing out on the opportunities afforded by high-speed internet access because of a lack of supply.

There are also regional discrepancies. While two-thirds of companies in the Dublin region have broadband, less than half of those in the Midland and Border areas have access.

"If Ireland is to maintain and expand its role in the global economy, it is imperative that our information communication technology (ICT) infrastructure be developed to a world class standard," said Seán Murphy, the CCI's head of research.

"This will be possible only with effective Government policy that is both committed and sustained."