Britain's broadband best in Europe, study shows
Britain's broadband best in Europe, study shows
The UK tops Europe’s five leading economies when it comes to broadband services, the Government has said.
According to Ofcom’s European Broadband Scorecard, the UK beats its rivals on the continent in most areas pertaining to our use, coverage and take-up of broadband. The study found that the country’s broadband connections and general bandwidth is superior to any other European nation, something that has been bolstered by the increased availability of super fast broadband, which has risen from around 60 per cent in 2011 to 73 per cent today.
This has helped move the UK from third to first among the power group of five European countries which is made up of the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. This is good news for consumers and businesses alike, as Britain provides better choice and quality when it comes to broadband; the Government has often pointed to improving internet connections as a means of economic growth by enabling businesses to make use of technologies such as VoIP and cloud computing, which can allow them to evolve the way they operate.
In terms of uptake, Britain stands at a high of 83 per cent, while over three quarters (77%) of the population bought goods online over the last year. Only eight per cent of Britons said they had never used the internet.
This brings further good news as it opens gateways for small businesses to engage with an ever-increasing online marketplace. The more people who not only have access to high-speed broadband but also feel comfortable purchasing products and services on the internet will feed back into the UK economy.
The rise of ‘superconnnected cities’ has been an integral part of the Government’s attempts to improve the UK’s broadband offerings. It has, they state, been an important step to help local businesses grow without the restriction of poor connections or low bandwidth.
Reflecting on Ofcom’s findings, Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: "Britons already do more business online than any other European country, and the news that we now have the best superfast coverage of all five leading European economies is testament to the progress made to date."
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