UK LONG WAY OFF G7 BROADBAND GOALS: PRICE AND 'LAST MILE' AVAILABILITY STILL THE PROBLEM

Britain is still a long way off reaching its stated goal of being the G7 leader for broadband services according to a report just published by Berlin based market research company Metrinomics. Broadband roll-out delays and a slow loop unbundling process have contributed to make British broadband internet connection adoption rates less than a third of those of countries like Germany and Sweden.

Britain is still a long way off reaching its stated goal of being the G7 leader for broadband services according to a report just published by Berlin based market research company Metrinomics.

Broadband roll-out delays and a slow loop unbundling process have contributed to make British broadband internet connection adoption rates less than a third of those of countries like Germany and Sweden. The UK now has over one million broadband users, but with only 59% of UK telephone exchanges providing broadband support, Britain still remains some way behind France and Germany.

Broadband availability has continually failed to meet British broadband consumer expectations ? leaving many potential broadband users less than happy. As one study participant put it, "I live five miles from Reading - the IT centre of the UK - and I cannot get broadband. I am incensed at this ridiculous situation."

UK consumers have only recently started to benefit from the sort of competitive broadband pricing long enjoyed by their European neighbours thanks to BT?s conversion to the joys of mass market broadband. Potential broadband customers who live outside "last mile" DSL delivery range continue to beset by a lack of affordable alternatives:

"Cost of Satellite is ridiculous for home use. BT haven't enabled my exchange yet so availability is the major obstacle."

"None available at present. BT are tardy with broadband provision in the UK & my exchange may never be enabled."

Metrinomics Research Projects Manager Matt Slater said:

"The British government has consistently said that it favours a holistic approach to growing the broadband market and that there is no 'magic bullet'. The leaden-footedness of Oftel in bringing BT to book on loop unbundling and the government's minimal financial committment to broadband in outlying communities make a mockery of the government?s broadband objectives. Potential broadband subscribers currently excluded from the broadband table because of lack of access have resigned themselves to slow broadband roll-out and slow internet for the time being. It is extremely likely that they will buy in when the opportunity to subscribe does come ? but only if the price is right."

Metrinomics is currently preparing a report on the Bluetooth market for publication in the new year.