Entertainment packages 'may increase broadband prices'

The public may face increased broadband costs if the internet is to become the primary source of entertainment services.

Accessing TV and radio applications over the internet may mean higher broadband prices as they require increased bandwidth, explained Andrew Ferguson, editor of thinkbroadband.com.

"At the end of the day, we, the general public, may have to accept that if our broadband connections are becoming our main entertainment medium at home that we may need to pay more to use it this way," he commented.

The broadband expert also said that internet service providers (ISPs) will have to make price plan options clearer and explain what they expect customers to use broadband services for.

Mr Ferguson was speaking after ISP Tiscali said the BBC should help to fund improvements to the internet following the popularity of its iPlayer service, which uses higher bandwidth levels to play programmes archived online.