LLU helping broadband take-up

According to Ofcom, the digital divide across the UK is narrowing, helped by increased availability and take-up of broadband.

The research examined communications services across Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the nine English Regions.

Broadband take-up was helped by the increased availability of broadband due to Local Loop Unbundling (LLU).  This includes providers such as Talk Talk, AOL and Tiscali who have invested in this alternative method of providing broadband rather than use BT Wholesale.

According to Ofcom, “The proportion of UK households able to receive competitive broadband and phone services through local loop unbundling (LLU) increased by 27 percentage points over the year from 40% at the end of 2005 to 67% at the end of the 2006.”

The take-up of broadband has also led to a growth in bundled services, where a provider typically supplies broadband alongside other services such as Digital TV or a phoneline.  Almost 29% of UK households took out a bundled service from a single provider in 2006.

The full reports can be found at:  http://www.ofcom.org.uk/research/cm/cm07/