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'Not just cost' keeping people disconnected
Tuesday 9th March 2010, by Daniel King
For many of us nowadays it seems to be a given that the internet is a necessity.
Imagine for a minute if you didn't have broadband, for example.
Could you do it?
I know that I'd find it extremely difficult.
However, according to new research from Consumer Focus - the statutory organisation campaigning for a fair deal for customers across the UK - there are plenty of people who are still disconnected from the web and seem perfectly content about it.
Mike O'Connor, chief executive of the organisation, commented: "Millions of people are still not online, many of them on low incomes."
However, perhaps surprisingly, it's not necessarily cost that is the main obstacle for these households.
Instead, respondents had a wide variety of worries and concerns when it comes to logging on, ranging from thinking it's more hassle than it's worth, to not believing they would be able to use it even if they did have the internet.
In addition, a large number of people said that there would be no point getting the web as they couldn't take advantage of online shopping or payment due to not having a bank account that has a Direct Debit facility.
Mr O'Connor went on to explain: "Only by dealing with consumers' fears - and promoting the online benefits that appeal to those on low incomes - will more people be encouraged to get connected."
But how would the government go about doing that?
What do you think? How would you try to promote the benefits of the internet to Brits like this?
Categories: Broadband
