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Broadband speeds across South Yorkshire could soon be between two and five times faster, researchers reckon will be necessary for future internet applications.

A study for networking giants Cisco, conducted jointly by Oxford University's Said Business School and Spain's University of Oviedo's Department of Applied Economics, found countries like Latvia, Slovenia and Estonia were better prepared than the UK to support the next generation of internet applications.

But the £100 million Digital Region project, designed to bring 25 megabits per second Superfast Broadband to 97% of South Yorkshire within three years, will mean download speeds that are double the average needed for future applications and upload speeds five timed the average for those that need it.

Speaking after publication of the Cisco research, Digital Region chief executive David Holt said: "Digital Region will provide 97% of the South Yorkshire region with access to superfast broadband; fast enough to allow users to stream HD quality video live through the internet.

"Not only will it offer high speed capabilities for download, but crucially will provide businesses with almost ubiquitous upload speeds, which is vital to facilitate the demands of creators.

"Our aim is to lead in the digital revolution which goes far beyond the 'just being ready' stage. We are committed to align people, process and technology to improve efficiency and secure new business opportunity."

The Cisco report ranked the UK 25th overall for broadband penetration and speed but only 31st out of 66 countries when it came to connection speeds, behind leaders such as South Korea and Japan and a host of smaller European countries.

Although the report classified the UK's current broadband speeds as 'meeting needs for today', it warned that the current network is not fit for the future.

Gene DePrez, director of innovation at city development company Creativesheffield, said: "Digital Region will provide a massive economic benefit to South Yorkshire, providing long term sustainable differentiation for those people who thrive on innovation in the digital environment.

"Employees will be able to access their offices at speed wherever they are in the world, and services like video conferencing and the transfer of large data files will be available at the touch of a button.

"We are focused on making Sheffield the centre of the creative and digital industries, and the superfast upload speeds available will provide a key differentiator between Sheffield and the rest of the UK. Nevertheless we will continue to look proactively for new technological innovation that will put Sheffield on the map as a digital city for the future."

Although Digital Region will give South Yorkshire a lead over the rest of the UK and many parts of the developed world, South Korea's government has promised universal speeds up to four times faster than those planned for South Yorkshire by 2012.