SM-Bot
11 Dec 2003, 7:21am
According to official figures released yesterday, the UK now has more than 3 million broadband users. Although to be fair the type of connections that fall under the term broadband, at least where these numbers are concerned, is a bit generous. Being in the UK myself though, this news, despite the slightly woolly figures, is in fact welcomed. However the most annoying bottle neck in the development of broadband Britain is simply the absurdly slow roll out by British Telecom, not the growth in demand for the service.
In particular, the Consumers' Association (CA) said punters needed a clear definition of broadband to prevent them from being misled, insisting that there is "widespread confusion about the term 'broadband'".
It was particularly critical of Oftel claiming that its definition of broadband (see above) only served to confuse consumers who found it difficult to compare different products and providers.
Indeed, until a 'meaningful' definition is agreed upon the debate will rumble on. In the meantime, though, what's clear is there really seems to be an appetite for faster, always-on Net services with new orders racking up at more than 40,000 a week.
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In particular, the Consumers' Association (CA) said punters needed a clear definition of broadband to prevent them from being misled, insisting that there is "widespread confusion about the term 'broadband'".
It was particularly critical of Oftel claiming that its definition of broadband (see above) only served to confuse consumers who found it difficult to compare different products and providers.
Indeed, until a 'meaningful' definition is agreed upon the debate will rumble on. In the meantime, though, what's clear is there really seems to be an appetite for faster, always-on Net services with new orders racking up at more than 40,000 a week.
Read more