In the UK a large number of consumers are 'confused by broadband terminology'

Based on a recent survey by Virgin Media it has been found that the terminology and technology relating the broadband internet services is becoming increasingly confusing to UK consumers.

It was found that security and speed were two areas that were causing the most confusion, according to the study, which was commissioned by Virgin Media and over 3000 users of the Internet in the UK were questioned.

Of the respondents that were questioned it was found that 18 percent didn’t actually know what broadband was, and 7 percent thought that Blu-ray, which is a home cinema format using high definition quality pictures, was an internet package of some kind.

As many as 40 percent of those questioned didn’t know what the term ADSL meant, and a further 45 percent could not define what a dongle was, according to the research. The research also found that 53 percent of the users did not know that there were other means of accessing the internet apart from a fixed line broadband connection.

The executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, Jon James said that there were a lot of users that still needed to be educated, although seeing an increasing number of users in Britain going online was promising.

The desire to get past the terminology and jargon associated with the Internet was the basis for the proposals by Virgin Media to open Broadband Schools where users were able to do this, he added.

Sir Richard Branson, the chief of Virgin said that he had always struggled with getting to grips with new technology and that he would most likely be a “prime candidate” for these Broadband Schools.

He added “At Virgin Media we want everyone to feel comfortable asking questions, no matter how silly they think they are, so that they can get the most out of their internet service and enjoy everything the internet has to offer.”