Cheaper Broadband Lifts UK Connections To 17.3m

Cheaper broadband deals are thought to have helped lift the number of broadband connections within the UK to over 17 million.

Ofcom’s latest Telecommunications Market Data Update has shown that residential and small business broadband connections reached 17.3 million in the last quarter of 2008.
These new figures show that the broadband sector has grown by 11% within a year, with 1.7 million new connections recorded – which shows that despite the economic downturn, the broadband industry is still performing well.
However, there are some who think that the new Ofcom figures are not giving the full picture. This is because the figures do not reflect the sales of mobile broadband connections which is a sector which has grown enormously over the past 12 months.
The 11% year on year rise in UK broadband connections is not overly surprising when you take into account a recent survey conducted by O2 that showed that the majority of the British public would cut down on their food bills rather than their broadband bills.

Overall the new figures published by Ofcom show the important role a fast internet connection is playing in people’s lives. In recessionary times, broadband is helping people to search for work as well as to apply for jobs online.
It is no wonder why so many people are unwilling to cut back on their broadband bills and why there is a steady growth in broadband connections each year.