The number of installed broadband lines in the UK will rise from just under 10 million now to nearly 18.5 million or 64 percent of home and business internet connections by the end of 2008, according to new research from Point Topic.
Rural areas are currently experiencing the fastest growth. But even with the current high penetration levels, the future forecast is for a declining growth rate, leading to a much tougher market for ISPs.
Another factor that will impact the market is BT reaching 1.5 million "unbundled" customers. The telco giant currently has 850,000 of these customers, but after 1.5 million have been unbundled or April 2007 - whichever comes first - Ofcom will allow BT Wholesale to set its own broadband pricing.
Comms strategist Steve Kennedy predicted that only larger players would survive after this.
But Current Analysis' Sandra O'Boyle pointed out, "Not everyone is going to want the triple- or quad-play packages the large ISPs are proposing - at least until the pricing becomes too attractive to resist."
Have your say on this article
Newsletters
Latest stories from Networks
Latest videos
You may also like
Networks jobs
Technology Patent Wars
Case studies from large organisations across all sectors
... And rich media, and flexible working, and peaks in traffic ...
Upcoming Events
Join us for this Computing web seminar, in which the Head of BI at the Co-operative Group Nick Colebourn will be explaining just how he reigned in the Group’s sprawling database estate and how significant savings were realised and data quality improved as a result.
Date: 31 May 2012
Time: 11:00 AM
Live June 13th 11:00am: Register now. During this web seminar we will be looking at the sorts of incidents that can bring data centres grinding to a halt and what can be done about them.
Date: 13 Jun 2012
Time: 11:00 am
Receive the latest jobs direct to your inbox
Are you being paid what you are worth?
