2007 will be a more prosperous year for broadband

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Despite BT's record-breaking broadband connectivity celebrations yesterday, many operators were in the doldrums over dwindling figures, according to research published today by Point Topic.

The broadband market researcher says that, while more than three million new lines were added in 2006, the numbers were down 20 per cent compared with 2005's figures, due largely to delays in meeting free bundle demand and local loop unbundling (LLU) issues.

But all is not lost and operators have a chance to redeem themselves in 2007, claims Point Topic.

More than one fifth of the 10 million UK households who don't currently have net access say that they are likely to get connected in the next six months, with 90 per cent of them vowing to bypass dial up and head straight for broadband.

That ready and willing audience represents 1.8 million potential customers demanding connectivity for personal surfing or to support their changing working habits.

"We believe that ISPs have the chance to do better in 2007 though," said Tim Johnson, chief executive of Point Topic.

"Our latest survey shows there is still a big latent demand for broadband in the consumer market. Add the number of homes we expect will upgrade from dial-up and there are 2.5 million new broadband customers to be won in the first half of the year.

"Obviously they won't all sign up but we think the industry should be able to win 70 per cent of them to add 1,750,000 new lines in the next six months."

Point Topic's previous forecasts have predicted that there will be close to 15 million broadband lines in the UK by the middle of this year.

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