Although the rate of broadband take-up fell across much of Europe in the last year, with the number of new subscriptions growing by only seven per cent in the third quarter of 2006 against 23 per cent in the third quarter of 2005, British take-up increased at a faster pace.

While growth in broadband uptake in Denmark and Belgium virtually slowed to a halt, with three per cent growth, and France’s growth slowed to ten per cent, UK broadband subscriptions rose rapidly.

ECTA’s managing director Steen Clausen described the trends as “extremely disappointing news from some of the countries which have traditionally been at the forefront of Europe’s broadband revolution”.

But UK broadband companies excelled themselves with “a multitude of offers to consumers”, Mr Clausen commented.

He added that a diversity of providers was desirable, and that ECTA is pressing the European Commission to introduce incentives to open markets for greater competition.

But Ofcom figures released last week showed that just five providers account for 82 per cent of the UK broadband market.

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