Broadband penetration rises 7% in UK

The number of UK households now able to access the internet has increased by seven per cent over the past year, new European Union figures have revealed.

According to research from statistical information service Eurostat, 69 per cent of Britons are now able to receive a broadband connection, although the increase in penetration has not been high enough to prevent the UK falling to eighth place in Europe from seventh last year, reports V3.co.uk.

The rise in penetration could be seen to reflect the progress of the UK government's universal connectivity policy, but countries such as Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands still have more households with broadband connections.

Richard Thurston, an analyst from Analysys Mason, told the website: "The government is aware it needs to get as many people as possible online and that it needs to take action to ensure those currently without broadband access - around 11 per cent - are able to receive it in the coming years."

The UK government has pledged to provide universal connectivity by 2012 and this could boost the take-up of VoIP solutions.