Cheap UK Broadband Internet Access Drives Uptake

Broadband access prices in the UK are amongst the cheapest in Europe and the US, according to new research published by Oftel yesterday. Following recent wholesale price cuts, the UK is now cheaper than France and Germany for consumer DSL, with packages available for as little as £20 a month, says the report.

Cheaper access to high-speed internet platforms is helping to drive take-up in the UK. Prices for DSL, for example, have fallen by 39% since the beginning of the year – and user numbers have increased by 50%.

The UK now has over 600,000 broadband connections and Oftel estimates that there are over 20,000 new connections every week. It also has a more competitive market for DSL than either France or Germany, with cheaper wholesale prices than France and more competition from service providers, according to the report. In addition, there is more competition from cable operators in the UK than in France or Germany.

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