19/05/2005

Internet connectivity increases on broadband popularity

The number of active subscriptions to the Internet increased by 4.9% between March 2004 and March 2005, according to the latest survey of Internet Service Providers (ISPs).

The market share for permanent connections continued to increase in March, now accounting for 47.6% of all connections, compared to 27.1% a year earlier. There was a year-on-year increase of 84.4% in subscriptions for permanent connections, with a monthly increase in March of 4.6%.

Dial-up Internet connections have continued to decrease, with a year-on-year fall to March 2005 of 24.5%. The latest monthly decrease – from February to March 2005 – was 3.2%. The share of dial-up connections dropped to 52.4% of all connections in March 2005.

The latest figures showed a continuation of the move from slower dial-up connections to quicker broadband, cable and leased line technologies.

The percentage of active subscriptions using free access or billed access fell to 29% in March 2005, compared with 36% a year before. The percentage of those paying a fixed rate for unmetered dial-up access also fell to 20%, compared to 32% a year before, while the percentage of active subscriptions using a mixed subscription type, like fixed rate plus calls, also dropped to 3%.

However, always-on subscriptions rose to 48%, an increase from 27% in March 2004.

(KMcA/SP)

Related Northern Ireland Business News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 February 2010
Small Businesses Get 'Secure' Opportunity
An innovation that is being billed as a unique business opportunity for Small & Medium Enterprises, (SMEs) and the civil security industry across all of Ireland has been launched.
19 November 2003
'Always on' Internet connections continue to grow
The latest monthly survey of UK Internet Service Providers (ISPs) shows that in the year to September 2003 there was a 4.1% increase in the number of subscriptions to the Internet and a 130% increase in 'always on' connectivity. The month-on-month change between August and September 2003 was 0.9%.
15 June 2005
NI jobs growth continues
Latest labour market figures have shown that Northern Ireland is continuing to experience jobs growth, with the highest number of employee jobs on record.
08 March 2016
Linen Quarter Consultation To End On 11 March
A public consultation on the proposed future development of the Linen Quarter is to end at 4pm on Friday, 11 March. An exhibition displaying a draft plan of how the Linen Quarter could look in the future went on display at the Ulster Hall last month.
16 April 2002
Retail sales register strong growth during March
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has said that the UK's retail sales recorded their strongest growth in six years during March, according to the latest figures. The BRC said like-for-like sales rose by 7.5 per cent compared to the previous year, while vibrant shopping during the Easter holiday weekend helped sustain the numbers.