Net increase in broadband connections surpasses forecast

The net increase in UK broadband connections so far this year has surpassed forecasts, with 445,000 new connections being established, according to Point Topic.

This figure surpasses the organisation's original forecast by some 100,000 and means there are nearly 18 million broadband connections throughout the UK delivering a range of download speeds and enabling customers to use VoIP hardware.

As a result, Point Topic has increased its forecast for the year by nearly 40 per cent and suggests there could be 23 million connections throughout Britain by the end of 2013.

Despite the increase, the organisation pointed out that at the current rate there will still be more than six million without a web connection by 2014 and no more than £12 million has been earmarked for universal connectivity so far.

Tim Johnson, chief analyst at Point Topic, said: "Allowing only £12 million to get more homes online looks pretty weak when you consider the size of the task on one side and the potential benefits on the other."

The government plans to deliver speeds of at least two megabits per second to every UK home by 2012.