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Broadband "increasingly vital" for consumers
Thursday 26th February 2009, by Daniel King
More than 17 million households in the UK are set to make the most of broadband technologies to improve their internet experience this year, research has revealed.
According to eMarketer, the falling cost of broadband means that the service is quickly becoming the norm in the UK, with the number of subscribers in 2009 expected to rise by 6.5 per cent on the previous year.
The offer of cost-effective bundles and packages by an increasing number of providers is likely to entice more customers, despite the increasingly gloomy financial outlook, the report claims.
It suggests that the popularity of online gaming, as well as the rise of online television and video channels such as the BBC iPlayer and YouTube, had resulted in greater demand for high-speed internet services.
The world of online and digital music also continues to grow, meaning customers are no longer satisfied with dial-up connections and low download speeds.
Karin von Abrams, senior analyst at eMarketer, said: "Broadband is increasingly vital for UK consumers as they make the most of what the web has to offer."
"Dial-up is rarely good enough any more," she added.
The report claimed that the rising popularity of broadband is also causing online retailers and advertisers to alter their strategies.
It said that marketers are becoming increasingly digital-savvy, including features such as 360-degree views, product videos and virtual fashion models that are better suited to high-speed internet.
According to a new report by research firm Point Topic, the future of broadband in Britain is set to keep growing, with nine in ten UK homes expected to have access to 32Mbps connections by 2019.
Categories: Broadband
