Majority of UK consumers deem broadband essential

Recent figures have been released showing that the vast majority of UK consumers see broadband as an essential service that should be available to all.

A survey was recently carried out by the Communications Consumer Panel, which has recently released the results of the study. The CCP, which operates as an independent advisory body to the UK’s communications regulator, polled two thousand people in sixteen focus groups as part of the study.

The results of the study showed that around eighty four percent of people think that broadband is an essential service, and that it should be available to all people irrespective of where they live. The survey results also showed that seventy three percent of people thought that a low income should not be a barrier to being able to getting broadband.

It was thought that whilst many thought that those without Internet in the home were missing out, this was not entirely true due to the availability of offline services and access to the Internet from elsewhere. However, many may be missing out on financial benefits such as savings that are available via the Internet.

One official from the CCP said: The tipping point will be when broadband does not just provide an advantage to people who have it, but disadvantages people who do not. Interestingly some people already feel disadvantaged: those who live in not-spots and those who have school-age children but do not have broadband at home.” She added: “Our research provides clear support for the Government’s proposed universal broadband commitment but Government must make it clear what services and activities people will and will not be able to carry out with a download speed of 2Mb/s – and will need to keep this under review so that it does not become outmoded.”

Source – www.thinkbroadband.com