08/09/2003

Over 2.3 million people in UK connected to broadband

Broadband access in the UK is growing by 30,000 subscribers a week, according to the latest Government figures.

At the end of July, over 2.3 million people in the UK had signed up for broadband.

Over 75% of the population now have the option of connecting to some form of the high-speed access services.

Communications Minister Stephen Timms said the UK is aiming to be the most extensive and competitive broadband market in the G7 by 2005.

"Our role in helping to achieving that is to create an economic environment that stimulates a dynamic broadband market delivering strong competition and high quality choice," he said.

However, Mr Timms said that access to broadband needs to be improved for people living in more rural locations.

"That's why we established the Rural Broadband Unit to focus on increasing access in those areas."

The Rural Broadband Unit promotes best practice at national, regional and local level to increase access to broadband in rural locations. The Unit comprises a joint team from Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Food and Rural Affairs.

The Government is investing £1 billion on public sector broadband connectivity over the next three years.

This will include pooling broadband services for schools and connecting up GP surgeries, hospitals and health authorities.

(SP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 May 2003
Broadband take up in UK tops two million
The UK now has two million broadband connections with new connections running at 35,000 each week, Oftel has announced today. David Edmonds, Director General of Telecommunications, said that the figures indicated that people had recognised the benefits of "fast, always on Internet access".
02 September 2003
Business broadband take-up doubles to 40%
The largest independent survey of business broadband usage ever undertaken in the UK has revealed that usage has increased to 40% and that one in two companies claim it is crucial to their business.
07 May 2003
Countryside Agency warns ‘digital divide’ widening
Rural businesses are being thwarted by a lack of access to high-speed telecommunications, warns the Countryside Agency. A report published today by the agency has raised concerns about the widening divide between town and country on the high-tech front.
20 December 2011
TalkTalk Most Complained About Last Quarter
A report from the UK's telecoms regulator has revealed that the TalkTalk group is the most complained about company in the industry last quarter, for its landline and fixed broadband services. Ofcom’s data showed that from July to September 2011 it received the most complaints about the TalkTalk Group with 0.
18 November 2003
Total broadband coverage by 2005, says BT
Total broadband coverage for internet access in all areas of the UK may be achieved by 2005 if industry and government work in partnership, according to BT.