UK Lags Behind Nordic Countries In Broadband Internet Access

The research shows that Sweden and Denmark are leading the way for broadband Europe, with 13.8% and 13.2% of households connected respectively. The UK is ranked down the table at seventh, with just 2.3% of homes (210,600) using a broadband internet connection.

Broadband connections – which carry more data than non-broadband systems – can take a number of forms. In the UK the split is currently 1.7% using cable, 0.5% for ADSL and just 0.1% with satellite access, according to NetValue.

Broadband breakdown, August 2001
	Cable	Satellite	ADSL	T1/Leased Line	Total broadband
Sweden	3.3	0.0	5.5	5.0	13.8
Denmark	6.6	0.0	6.6	0.0	13.2
Germany	3.6	0.0	4.2	0.0	7.8
France	3.2	0.4	2.8	0.0	6.4
Spain	2.7	0.0	3.5	0.0	6.2
Norway	3.5	0.2	1.4	0.0	5.1
UK	1.7	0.1	0.5	0.0	2.3
Italy	0.5	0.1	0.3	0.0	0.9
Source: NetValue, 01/10/01

Sweden is the only European country to have substantially developed the very fast T1/leased line connections, with a household penetration currently at 5.0%. Norway, meanwhile, leads the way in the use of the slower ISDN connections system. ISDN is widely expected to be replaced by ADSL and other broadband systems.

Spain is top of the list for streaming usage, with France in second position. The term streaming media refers to audio or video files that are viewed live as they are transmitted across the web, rather than downloaded onto the user’s PC first. Streaming media include songs, videos, news reports, sports coverage and, more recently, advertisements.