The latest monthly update from National Statistics shows a modest 1.9 per cent increase in the number of active UK subscriptions to the internet in the 12 months to February 2005.

The market share for broadband connections continued to increase in February, and currently accounts for 43 per cent of all connections. This compares with a market share of 23.6 per cent a year earlier.

According to the government's official statistics agency, dial-up internet connections continued to decrease, with a year-on-year fall to February 2005 of 24 per cent. The latest monthly decrease, from January to February 2005, was 2.8 per cent.

In contrast, permanent broadband internet connections continued to increase market share and made up 43 per cent of all subscriptions in February 2005, up from 41 per cent in January 2005.

The figures show a year-on-year increase of 85.9 per cent for broadband subscriptions, with a monthly increase in February of 5.7 per cent.

In February 2005, the percentage of active subscriptions using free access or billed access was 31 per cent, compared with 38 per cent a year before.

The percentage of those paying a fixed rate for unmetered dial-up access decreased to 22 per cent compared with 33 per cent a year before.

The percentage of active subscriptions using a mixed subscription type (fixed rate plus calls) remained at four per cent, while always-on subscriptions rose to 43 per cent compared with 24 per cent in February 2004.