Home-workers may face dip in internet speed

An estimated five million UK spectators, 500,000 international visitors, 90,000 family members of the Olympic teams and a specialist workforce of 200,000 will also be striving to connect to broadband networks in the coming weeks.

Dana Tobak, managing director of Hyperoptic, said those who were planning to create a business base at home during the games could 'hardly be filled with confidence' at the prospect of stress-free internet access, particularly as figures from Ofcom revealed internet speed in the capital was trailing behind other major cities.

She said: "Frankly, it's too late to start thinking about a contingency plan just as the games are about to begin, we already know that existing copper-based networks are no longer fit for purpose.

"Fibre-based technology is not just a long-term investment, it's the most appropriate solution to protect internet users from increased demand."

But a spokesperson for BT reassured those working from home that the company was striving to protect 'customer experience' during the games and had undertaken reviews of major events including the Royal Wedding, as well as drawing on its previous experience, to inform its planning.

"As a result we have built a capacity model for our core broadband networks and we've brought forward investment and capacity increases to meet the anticipated extra demand," he said.

He added: "On top of the extra planning and investment, we've also installed more than 475,000 wi-fi hotspots in Greater London.

"This will give people additional opportunities to get online, keep in touch and share their experiences during this exciting time."