The North-East is leading the UK in the adoption and use of new technologies, according to the Government.

The Department of Trade and Industry's latest Business In the Information Age survey shows that the region leads the country in terms of business access to the Internet, connections to advance ADSL Internet services and the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in transforming business finance procedures.

But the North-East is underperforming in other areas, including the adoption of full e-commerce website facilities and online payments.

The partners behind the North East Broadband Initiative (NEBI) are urging businesses in the region to make it the starting point of a North-East ICT revolution.

The NEBI, which was founded by regional development agency One NorthEast, BT and Onyx Internet with www.n-e-life.com, the electronic community for the North-East, aims to enable the region to compete more strongly on economic terms through adopting ICT-led ways of conducting business.

Maitland Hyslop, head of knowledge, information and ICT at One NorthEast, said it proved a significant step forward for the region.

"The region is very well equipped in terms of its ICT and broadband Internet infrastructure, the ICT skills base of its employees and its businesses' general attitude towards integrating such advanced procedures into their day-to-day activities."