Forty-five per cent connected to the World Wide Wait

 

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Posted on 31 Jan 2002 at 10:31

UK homes are eager for the Internet, but baulk at broadband.

Oftel's latest review shows that 11 million UK homes are Internet-connected via narrowband.

This represents a rise from 30 per cent to 45 per cent in one year, and many of us (4 million, to be precise) are benefiting from cheap unmetered deals. However, few are graduating to broadband services - the broadband user base in the UK is still less than one per cent.

And it is unclear how quickly this situation will change. While BT is under fire from broadband operators because of its dominant position, Oftel is reluctant to impose further regulations as it believes BT should be able to make a return on its investment in broadband. Furthermore, new EU Directives - soon to be implemented - will require Oftel to review regulations to assess if they are still applicable.

Oftel expects broadband take-up to be driven from package deals offered by cable companies that make upgrading to broadband more cost-effective when included with telephone and digital TV deals. Pace Micro Technology and Telewest Broadband, for example, have today announced the first commercial trials of Pace's Home Networking Platform. Subscribers can plug Pace's Gateway Expander into their set-top box or cable modem to create high-speed wireless DECT links throughout the home.

Author: Alun Williams