Broadband demand seen falling

Research from Point Topic showed that new broadband subscriber numbers fell due to a smaller pool of dial-up users.

Point Topic also warns that new subscriber numbers due this week from Virgin Media and BT are likely to be disappointing.

“We believe this sends a danger signal for broadband Britain.  With almost 40 per cent of British households on the wrong side of the digital divide, the social and economic progress of the UK will be stalled unless the great majority of these homes can be brought on to the internet.” said Tim Johnson, chief analyst at Point Topic.

Point Topic estimates that no more 470,000 households signed up to broadband in the last quarter between July and September 2007, compared to 510,000 for the previous quarter.

It also believes that not enough is being done in the industry to bring the remaining 40 percent of UK homes onto broadband.  Much publicised issues with customer service, connection problems and actual broadband speeds are also (often unnecessarily) putting people off.