Broadband will account for half of all Net access connection in the US by early 2004, according to a survey by New Jersey-based market research firm Solomon-Wolff Associates.

Its prediction comes as it revealed that currently three in ten of all Net connections in the US are served by either cable or DSL.

Three years ago just six per cent of Net access was via a broadband connection.

According to Solomon-Wolff's survey, cable modems currently account for 20 per cent of Internet connections while DSL makes up around 10 per cent.

Cable's lead over DSL is expected to continue - for the time being at least - even though twice as many dial-up users claim to prefer DSL for their home Internet service as opposed to cable.

Said S Joey Wolff, partner, Solomon-Wolff Associates: "Cable companies got off to a much faster start with cable modems than phone companies did with DSL.

"DSL service seems to be about a year and a half behind cable modem service."

According to the study Road Runner provides service to more households than any other cable modem service, while AOL has the largest market share of DSL users. ®