Despite predicting back in 2002 that the end of 2006 would see 5 million connections, in reality 10 million UK punters have signed up to broadband internet over ADSL.

8.7 million of those customers are connected direct to BT through BT Yahoo or branded ADSL services, 1.3 million though local loop unbundling supplied by BT Openreach.

Cable is still supplying broadband to around 3 million homes, with the vast majority of new connections in 2006 being ADSL-based; though that can be attributed to the limited reach of cable rather than any customer preference.

Higher speeds are, as ever, promised for the next 12 months, though for the 0.2 per cent of the population without any connectivity at all that’s small recompense.®

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