Jobs for IT contractors could be affected unless the broadband infrastructure in the UK is improved, it has been claimed.

According to Andrew Ferguson, the editor at independent broadband news website thinkbroadband.com, the UK is currently able to play "catch-up" and remain in the digital economy "major league".

However, without rapid investment, the country could easily get left behind, he explains.

"The risk is not really that we will have to wait a few extra minutes for material to download, but that new content services will simply not appear in the UK for some years," said Mr Ferguson.

He went on to say that this will have a very real effect on the number of technology jobs available and on the economy itself.

Earlier this month, the secretary of state for culture, Olympics, media and sport Jeremy Hunt laid out plans for the upgrading broadband networks and stimulating a "nationwide technological upgrade".