Home Broadband Surge Coming Soon?
By allNetDevices Staff
May 03, 2001
A large jump in broadband users in the home could occur in the next six months, according to research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) Intersearch.
The firm said that only 18 percent of U.S. households now use broadband Internet access such as DSL and cable service. However, a survey found that an additional 13 percent of households said they expect to subscribe in the next six months.
The main barriers so far to broadband adoption have been high prices and a lack of availability, the survey found. About 22 percent cited high prices while 15 percent said the service wasn't available in their areas.
"While the Internet delivery method of choice continues to be the dial-up modem, once the prices of these broadband services come down and they become more accessible, a large portion of Internet subscribers will choose those services," said Brenda McFarland, senior vice president of TNS Intersearch.
The study also found relatively little interest in accessing the Internet via television, with only about 22 percent expressing interest in that method. However, there was strong interest in interactive television (i-TV), which augments programming with Internet content.
The study comes at a time in which many broadband providers, particularly those providing DSL service, have either gone out of business or are staggering. The study was conducted among 1,022 U.S. adults between April 11 to April 15, 2001.
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