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LINX, which handles roughly 96 per cent of the UK's Internet Traffic, claims that 34 per cent of UK traffic was destined for UK and European destinations, with 30 per cent headed across the Atlantic. Asian countries accounted for 22 per cent.

Exactly when Europe took the lead is unclear, as this is the first time LINX has published such figures, although we were told anecdotally by a LINX spokesperson that the USA has traditionally held a head start as it is essentially the birthplace of the Web.

Vanessa Evans of LINX said: 'Commercial logic suggests that ISPs establish routes to meet the needs of the traffic they are carrying. The connection figures...are a crude but valid reflection of where the UK's Internet traffic is coming from and going to.'

John Souter, CEO at LINX, said that Internet traffic through the LINX exchange is nearly trebling on a yearly basis, currently peaking at around 22Gbits/sec.