Broadband Black Holes Persist - UK Broadband Cheaper than Dial-up - US Broadband Penetration Climbs to 78.5% Among Active Internet Users - January 2007 Bandwidth Report

Despite President Bush’s promise of universal access to broadband by 2007 there are still areas within the US that have little or no coverage, according to DSLReports.com. In the UK, broadband has become cheaper than dial-up access according to Silicon.com. Meanwhile in the US broadband grew to 78.5% in December among active Internet users.

Home Connectivity in the US

US broadband penetration among active Internet users grew to 78.45% in December 2006. Narrowband users connecting at 56Kbps or less now comprise 21.55% of active Internet users, down 0.77 percentage points from 22.32% in November 2006 (see Figure 1).

Web Connection Speed Trends – Home Users (US)

Figure 1: Web Connection Speed Trends – Home Users (US)
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings

Broadband Growth Trends in the US

In December 2006, broadband penetration in US homes grew 0.77 percentage points to 78.45%, up from 77.68% in November. This increase of 0.77 points is below the average increase in broadband of 0.99 points per month over the last six months (see Figure 2). At current growth rates US broadband penetration should break 80% among active Internet users by February 2007.

Broadband Adoption Growth Trend – Home Users (US)

Figure 2. Broadband Adoption Growth Trend – Home Users (US)
Extrapolated from Nielsen//NetRatings data

Work Connectivity

As of December 2006, 92.29% of US workers were on broadband, down 0.21 percentage points from the 92.5% share in November. At work 7.71% connect at 56Kbps or less (see Figure 3).

Web Connection Speed Trends – Work Users (US)

Figure 3: Web Connection Speed Trends – Work Users (US)
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings

Broadband Black Holes Persist – UK Broadband Cheaper than Dial-up – US Broadband Penetration Climbs to 78.5% Among Active Internet Users – January 2007 Bandwidth Report