Confectionary and drinks giant Cadbury Schweppes is providing 2,000 remote workers with broadband at home, to improve productivity and cut costs.

The firm has equiped mobile staff with a roaming communications for the past two years, and now wants to extend the service.

The existing system allows mobile sales staff to access an internet connection via a standard web-based log on wherever they are, without having to worry about paying individual bills.

Cadbury has already saved 50 per cent in remote access control costs since standardising the way mobile staff connect to the internet access corporate networks, following an agreement with supplier Sirocom in 2002.

Cadbury Schweppes European communication services manager Chris Bond says it was a natural step to extend the service into remote workers' homes.

'The main thing is the speed of throughput that the broadband connection gives you,' he said. 'The difference between downloading attachments via broadband or dial-up couldn't be greater. And the option to work form home has made our employees more effective - it's as good as being in the office.'

'Before 2002 we had a remote direct-dial solution, which we found very expensive. But the biggest difference between that and the current service is that costs weren't centralised. This gives us fixed, predictable costs, while allowing our remote workers to access central applications,' he said.

Sirocom is providing the managed ADSL service that is being installed in staff homes. So far 250 of the company's 2,000 remote workers have been provided with broadband.

Bond says the company was so pleased with the increased productivity of its workers as well as reduced, centrally managed costs, it will now be looking at the feasibility of rolling out the service to other countries.