Rural UK enjoys broadband bonanza

Ofcom chief Ed Richards said that more people are using digital TV and radio than ever before

The UK's urban dwellers have fewer internet connections that their country cousins, an Ofcom report has revealed.

Broadband has reached 59 per cent of rural homes compared to 57 per cent of urban homes, according to the regulator.

This pattern is repeated across the country. Wales shows the biggest divergence where 51 per cent of rural homes have broadband compared to 43 per cent of urban users.

Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "Our report highlights a closing of the geographic digital divide in the UK. Rural households today are as well connected to broadband as their urban neighbours.

"The report also shows that take-up of all communications services across the UK continues to grow.

"More people are watching digital television and listening to digital radio, and consumers are benefiting from convergence and using new ways to access traditional services."

The report also looked at the take up of other technologies, such as digital TV, DAB radio and mobile phones, and found that 85 per cent of homes now have at least one digital television.

Sunderland emerged as the most advanced area with 96 per cent of homes on digital, followed by Cardiff and Glasgow at 95 per cent.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, only 64 per cent of Derry residents and 70 per cent of Birmingham residents have gone digital.

Over one in five homes now has a digital radio, up three per cent on last year. Scotland showed the fastest growth in the UK, where DAB ownership is up seven per cent on the year.

Ofcom also reported that 12 per cent of homes no longer have a fixed telephone line, rising to 28 per cent in Manchester.

However, the number of mobile only households in Scotland fell from 14 to 12 per cent.

• Ofcom Report: T he Nations & Regions Communications Market 2008 (May)