Broadband is on the cusp of becoming a mass-market product in the US, according to research from Jupiter Media Metrix.

It claims companies in the broadband sector should begin preparing now for the coming broadband mainstream which it believes will kick in next year.

And it predicts that one in four US homes (35 million) will be hooked up to a broadband Internet connection by 2006 - up from one in ten (five million) last year.

Said Joe Laszlo, a senior analyst at Jupiter: "Despite the recent failures of several broadband pioneers, and slower growth of the overall online population, broadband will find the masses in the US shortly.

"While consumers' awareness of broadband has grown considerably, improved and increased marketing by cable and DSL providers will finally help overcome lingering resistance to the cost of broadband subscriptions.

"It is absolutely critical for companies with relevant content, products and services to time their business initiatives to reach the anticipated broadband audience," he said.

Earlier this week NTL called on the Government to use education to help hasten its progress to a mass-market product. ®

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