More rural homes have broadband

The geographical digital divide in the UK has been all but closed according to a report from Ofcom.

The report by the UK's communication regulator reveals that for the first time rural households are now better connected to the net than their urban counterparts.

Across the UK as a whole, 59 per cent of households in rural areas now have broadband compared to 57 per cent of urban areas.

Ed Richards, Ofcom's chief executive said the report "highlights a closing of the geographic digital divide in the UK."

"Rural households are today as well connected to broadband, as their urban neighbours," Richards said.

The percentage of UK homes with broadband has increased from 45 per cent to 57 per cent in 12 months. The report also revealed an emerging trend for households to go without fixed line telephony.

Across all of Britain, 87 per cent of homes have a fixed-line telephone while 12 per cent of homes rely on mobile phones only and are increasingly accessing the web through wireless networks.

The city-by-city analysis of digital, broadband and mobile take-up showed that Sunderland is the UK's most connected town.

According to Ofcom's figures, 96 per cent of households in Sunderland have access to digital TV, while 66 per cent have a broadband connection. Glasgow has the lowest take-up of broadband in the UK at 32 per cent.

When it comes to multi tasking on the net Scots are the most versatile or most likely to indulge in "media-stacking" - doing several media activities at the same time. Two-thirds of Scots spend time talking on their mobile while using the internet.

www.ofcom.org.uk