UK notches up 2 million broadband connections

Posted on 22 May 2003 at 10:52

Oftel has announced that the UK now has 2 million broadband connections, a total which has doubled in just seven months.

David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said, 'It took two years to reach one million connections, but only seven months to reach two million, as increased competition and lower prices have boosted connection rates.'

Cable companies NTL and Telewest recently announced they had reached the 1 million mark, so the split between DSL and cable connections falls roughly equal, although Oftel does consider BT's monopolistic power to be a powerful factor in taking an increasingly larger percentage of new sign-ups.

Oftel's figures include users of NTL's controversial 128/150Kbits/sec services, which rivals are claiming cannot be called broadband.

Currently Oftel does consider such services as broadband, although recent proposals show it is favouring moving this to 256Kbits/sec.

NTL would not disclose how many of its customers were on its 'first-tier' service. However a spokesperson did put gripes from the competition down to sour grapes - BT's Midband (128Kbits/sec) offering will cost £35 a month and not be always-on. NTL's equivalent service is £17.99 a month.

Of course the real praise for the success of broadband, according to Oftel, is for Oftel's role. Edmonds said: 'Oftel's creation of one of the most competitive broadband markets in Europe means consumers are benefiting from increased choice and lower prices. Broadband services can be accessed over DSL, cable networks, fixed wireless and satellite with over 100 ISPs offering broadband services to consumers.'