Broadband sign-ups fall amid market confusion

The number of broadband lines in Britain has increased by 730,000 in the past three months – the lowest figure for any similar period over the past two years.

Tim Johnson, chief executive of broadband watchers Point Topic, blames confusion over 'free'offers from Sky amd Carphone Warehouse and the fact that some big providers 'are getting out altogether or being very low-key about sales.'

Johnson points out that 400,000 people who have signed up with Carphone Warehouse have not got their broadband yet. 'So that's a big number overhanging the market. Others can see prices are coming down so they're waiting to make up their minds. We think the growth rate will go up sharply later in the year when these new users start getting connected.'

Point Topic's figures for DSL lines came from BT and competitors, but those for cable are estimates.

Britain added an average of 75,000 broadband lines every week between October 2004 and March this year, Point Topic says. Over the past quarter the average has dropped 56,000.

the total number of broadband lines in the UK at the end of June was over 11.7 million.

The second quarter of the year is usually the weakest for broadband but the fall this time was particularly sharp. Percentage growth in the quarter was only 6.6%, the lowest since broadband started.