There was a time when the post office was best known for its provision of a range of services from benefits collection to tax discs, television licences, and more. However, the boom of the Internet has seen the number of people using their local post office fall by a massive four million in the last couple of years. Two years ago around twenty eight million people used their local post office for various services. However, with benefits now being paid straight into bank accounts, and a vast range of services such as car tax discs, television licences, and driving licences available online, this figure has fallen to around twenty four million.

As a result of these falling figures, and the million of pounds in losses every week, the government has announced that a fifth of post office branches will be closed by 2009. The Post Office has realised that it need to pull some impressive tricks out of the bag in order to stay afloat – and in light of the huge popularity of broadband has decided to turn its hand to broadband delivery as part of the services that it offers. Ironically, the steady decline of the post office is probably partly down to the popularity and effectiveness of broadband and the Internet, as many people now go online for various services rather than going to the post office.

The Post Office has entered into a four year agreement with BT Wholesale worth seven hundred and fifty million pounds. It is estimated that by the third quarter of the year the Post Office will be offering broadband delivery to customers. However, some experts state that it may be too little too late for the Post Office in terms of trying to turn things around through broadband delivery. Experts state that with the number of Internet Service Providers now in operation, and with the wide range of highly competitive deals and packages already on offer, the Post Office may have left it too late.

Yvan Bamping of broadband comparison site Broadband Expert commented “there have been rumours circulating for some time that the Post Office would be offering broadband, it’s good for competition and ultimately that’s good for the consumer.”