Broadband: King of the net connections

Broadband use in the UK is inching up towards 90 per cent of all internet connections, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). And fat pipe speeds are on the up too - at least on paper.

The list from A to Z

Click on the links below to find out more...

A is for ADSL
B is for BT
C is for Cable & Wireless
D is for Dial-up
E is for Education
F is for Fibre
G is for Goonhilly
H is for HSDPA
I is for In-flight
J is for Janet
K is for Kingston
L is for Landlines
M is for Murdoch
N is for Next generation
O is for Ofcom
P is for Power lines
Q is for Quad-play
R is for Remote working
S is for Satellite phones
T is for Trains
U is for Unbundling
V is for VoIP
W is for WiMax
X is for Xbox
Y is for YouTube
Z is for Zombies

The ONS stats for September show broadband connections accounting for 88.4 per cent of net connections - up from 86.2 per cent in June. Unsurprisingly, dial-up connections are continuing to slide, comprising just 11.6 per cent of connections.

The internet connectivity report for September also shows an increase in the advertised maximum speeds of broadband connections. Top speeds - of more than 8Mbps - were achieved by four per cent of UK fat pipe connections, up from 3.9 per cent in June and 2.4 per cent back in December 2006.

There has also been a rise in the '2Mbps to 8Mbps' bracket: 45.2 per cent of connections fell into this range, up from 43.3 per cent in June and 35.1 per cent last December. Connections with advertised speeds of less than 2Mbps declined, dropping to 50.8 per cent in September from 52.8 per cent in June. Last December the figure stood at 62 per cent.

Broadband speed is a contentious issue since ISPs advertise a theoretical maximum which users do not always achieve. A recent Ofcom report identified so-called headline speeds as an issue of increasing concern for broadband consumers. The regulator said it is working with industry and the Advertising Standards Authority to ensure consumers have clear and accurate information about broadband speeds.