Broadband uptake falls

13:56 27th October 2008

The number of new broadband lines added in the last quarter dropped by 20 per cent, outlining that internet providers are beginning to feel the effects of the economic downturn.

The broadband analyst firm Point Topic had predicted that a further 800,000 lines would be needed in the UK during the second half of 2008.

However, only 313,000 lines were implemented between July and September, which is roughly one-fifth below the 390,000 target and has led to the reduction of the annual forecast to 620,000.

Tim Johnson, chief analyst at Point Topic, indicated that a continued reluctance by consumers to move to broadband could be a blow the government's digital inclusion programme.

He said: "We're now forecasting that only 620,000 broadband lines will be added in the second half of 2008.The forecast for 2009 as a whole is 1.1 million, 200,000 down on the earlier forecast."

Last week, Top 10 Broadband suggested that the amount of consumers taking up internet packages which offer free laptops is expected to increase as Christmas approaches.