20 February 2009
Despite the recession and its impact on family finances, households will not give up their broadband connections, it has been claimed.
According Ashley Highfield, Managing Director and Vice-President of consumer and online UK at Microsoft, broadband has become an essential service.
He explained that while many consumers are downsizing their digital TV packages and subscribing to cheaper deals, this trend is not being replicated in the broadband market.
"There has been no evidence so far - and I don't believe there will be - of anyone giving up broadband anymore than anyone's going to give up water or electricity," Mr Highfield remarked.
According to a recent report by Ofcom, there were 16.9 million broadband lines in the UK at the end of September 2008 - up from 15.6 million in 2007.
The regulator said this figure is likely to have surpassed 17 million now as more consumers ditch their dial-up.