Broadband costs fall in UK

Standing ovation from digital nation

By Tim Richardson • Get more from this author

Posted in Telecoms, 12th August 2004 10:15 GMT

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The cost of broadband in the UK is falling, especially with the surge in interest for entry-level products. However, the UK is still a tad more expensive for faster-speed broadband services, especially when compared with Korea or Japan.

That's just one of the fascinating observations contained in a new report by regulator, Ofcom, which provides a snapshot of key trends in the UK's communications sector.

For instance, did you know that the total number of broadband subscribers in the UK stood at 4.4m in June 2004 with the number of new punters signing up to ADSL and cable nearing 50,000 a week, up from 40,000 a week six months ago? At these rates, the UK will hit 5m broadband users in mid-Spetember as more than a third of Internet households now have a broadband connection.

Elsewhere, Ofcom's Communications Market 2004 report found that people are spending loads more time online, oodles more time gassing on their mobile phones but only a smidgen more watching TV. What's more, the UK is increasingly turning "digital" with the greater adoption of digital services and formats (such as MP3s and DVDs) and increased digital network coverage.

Said Ofcom bod, Ed Richards: "The report also reveals the extent to which the UK is becoming a digital nation, with widespread availability of digital networks of all kinds. This is to be welcomed; the advance of digital technology brings increased consumer choice and greater innovation, through broadband access, digital television, music downloads, digital radio and more."