Ofcom Broadband Report Says UK Internet Use Is Highest Among ‘EU5’

The UK has the highest rate of Internet usage among the five largest European economies, according to a new Ofcom broadband report published for the government.

The Ofcom European Broadband Scorecard said that 81 percent of people In the UK were online, more than France, Germany, Italy and Spain. It adds that the UK benefits from a highly competitive broadband market which results in some of the lowest fixed and mobile broadband prices in Europe.

The report was proposed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to measure the government’s progress towards its goal of having the best superfast broadband of any major European nation by 2015.

Ofcom broadband scorecard

Since then, adoption of superfast broadband has accelerated and the rollout of fibre in areas eligible for government funding from the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme has started.

“It’s official – UK broadband is cheap. But to reap the financial benefits of what is a truly competitive market, Brits need to realise that loyalty doesn’t always pay. Switching deals or provider could save consumers £120 a year,” commented Marie-Louise Abretti, telecoms expert at uSwitch. “When it comes to super-fast broadband, it’s clear we’ve still got some catching up to do with our European neighbours. Although 65% of UK households can get super-fast speeds, many don’t realise they can, while others are worried about the strain it could put on their wallets.”

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