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Ofcom delivers mixed verdict on UK broadband

We may pay the least in Europe for our broadband, but we're getting speeds to match, according to Ofcom's annual telecoms report.

By Martin James, 17 Dec 2009 at 12:12

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A new Ofcom report has delivered a mixed verdict on the state of the UK's broadband industry.

The regulator's annual International Communications Market report takes the temperature of the entire £548 billion communications market in 12 major economies. And while it is broadly complimentary about Britain's digital communications industries, it's not all good news, especially when it comes to broadband.

According to Ofcom, we're getting a good price for our high-speed internet, but we're trailing far behind when it comes to how many people can actually use it.

Of the nine European nations mentioned, the UK ranks fifth when it comes to the proportion of broadband connections with a headline speed about 8Mbps. The Netherlands and Sweden top the list with over 30 per cent, while the UK's meagre 10 per cent also trails France and Germany.

Our monthly cost per connection of £16 is the best around, however – with only Germany measuring up. The report showed average broadband prices have more than halved in Europe over the past five years, but had remained largely the same in North America and Japan.

We also enjoy the lowest mobile prices around, and over the last 12 months the amount of TV we watch every day has increased by more than any other country to an average of 3.8 hours a day. However, that still trails Italy, Poland and Spain in Europe, and - unsurprising - global king, the US.

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2 comments

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Mb per £

It makes absolutely no difference what we are paying per month for our so called 8Mb connection if we can never get it. I pay £15 per month for mine and my provider can only achieve 1.4Mb and that's inside the M25. Ranking is pointless if in reality we are not getting the service

By Daz_Ryan on Friday Dec 18

Sounds like a talke of underinvestment and untapped markets...

So, in other countries people pay more for a faster broadband service. Proof if it was needed that the UK market does not satisfy the demand for faster broadband. It is my firm belief that the market has been severely damaged by BT's unfulfilled promises. A press release from the incumbent suppliers should be considered by Ofcom to have the force of a contract, and severe penalties should be exacted if they fail to deliver. Only this way will we create an environment in which investors have the courage to back new players.

By Ip_kimf8d23f3453 on Friday Dec 18