Ofcom has found that broadband take-up in homes in England had reached 45% by the end of 2006. The research also confirmed that the digital divide between the UK is closing as 42% of homes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales has broadband.

More UK homes connected to broadband than in 2005 where only 36% of homes in England had broadband. Also, two-thirds of UK homes were able to get broadband services through local loop unbundling technology in 2006, compared to two-fifths in 2005.

Ofcom’s 2006 report: Communications Market Report of the Nations and Regions of the UK also found that 29% of UK households signed up to bundle services from a single telecoms provider in 2006. Also, the report mentioned that each country had its own favourite technology:

• Bundled services – Northern Ireland, 32%.
• Wi-Fi hotspots per million people - Wales, 193.
• VoIP, Scotland - 19%.
• DAB radio - England, 19%.