The UK continues to be a Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) laggard, according to the latest research from Oftel.

While take-up of DSL services over unbundled local loops are starting to be provided to end users - particularly business users - take-up is currently low in the UK and Sweden.

In Germany and the US, however, take-up is higher, accounting for around 6 per 100 incumbent DSL lines, says the telecoms regulator.

The biggest change in the last six months has been in France where take-up of LLU has increased around 17 fold. Despite this massive jump, France still trails Germany and the US concerning LLU take-up.

Elsewhere, Oftel reckons the UK has some of the lowest broadband prices in Europe for residential broadband.

Oftel's latest international benchmarking research (http://www.oftel.gov.uk/publications/research/2003/benchint_1_0603.htm) shows that residential broadband services are cheaper than in France, Germany and the US, with only Sweden offering a slightly cheaper service than the UK.

Oftel reckons that the lower prices have led to an "increasing numbers of people signing up for broadband". Imagine that. ®