Research reveals Britons consider broadband vital

New research has revealed that Britons now consider broadband to be as important as water or electricity supplies, according to the BBC.

The Communications Consumer Panel interviewed 2,000 people across the UK and took in findings from 16 separate focus groups to find that nearly three-quarters of respondents consider high-speed connections to be important to everyday life.

High-speed broadband can shorten download times, while also facilitating online communications such as VoIP solutions and many of those surveyed said they thought people without a connection are missing out.

Anna Bradley, chair of the Communications Consumer Panel, told the corporation: "[Broadband] is being compared by consumers to gas and electricity - things which they think we all ought to have access to, almost as a right."

She added that while broadband access is already essential for many people, everyone will come to depend on it in one way or another over the coming years.

In related news, Broadband.co.uk reports that average UK connection speeds reached 4.25 megabits per second in May.