Almost half of US online households with an annual income in excess of $75,000 have high-speed internet access, according to a survey conducted by Knowledge Networks/SRI.
The poll, conducted in August and September 2003, is the latest study to show a link between wealth and broadband connectivity. It is reckoned that 49% of affluent internet homes have high-speed access, well above the national average of 34%. Nearly a third (31%) use cable modems while 18% rely on DSL connections.
When the survey was last carried out, in the spring, 40% of well-off homes claimed to have a broadband connection, compared to 26% of all online households.
“The long-held vision of the internet as a go-to source for research and purchase of almost anything is being fulfilled among high-end consumers,” said David Tice, vice president of client services at Knowledge Networks/SRI.
The spread of broadband has been particularly welcomed by online retailers as people with a high-speed internet connection tend to be more inclined to shop via the web. According to the survey, 64% of broadband households had shopped online in the past 60 days, compared to just 42% of dial-up households.
Total US broadband connections grew by 27% between May and November 2003, according to recent figures from Nielsen//NetRatings (see US Broadband Population Approaches 50 Million).
