The take-up of broadband services in Germany is expected to grow 300 per cent-plus over the next five years to more than 12.5 million lines, according to research out today.

Apparently, Net users in Germany are so comfortable with the online world that many people make purchases over the Internet "without a second thought".

This gem is contained in Government-backed research - Germany Online - The Internet in Industry and Society - and concludes that the Internet has become a natural part of daily life in Germany.

Surveying more than 28,000 people, the research also found that there is a real appetite for egovernment, with seven out of ten people interested in interacting with the Government online and with some even willing to pay for the privilege to do so.

Eight in ten said that Internet skills will be very important for the future prosperity of the German economy. Which is nice. ®