Broadband uptake well behind Australia

By PAUL BRISLEN

Uptake of broadband internet connections in New Zealand homes lags behind even our closest neighbour in a survey of users conducted by research giant Nielsen/NetRatings.

Nielsen/NetRatings, a sister company to ratings firm ACNielsen, says broadband connections in homes reached 6.7 per cent for the quarter ended 30 June, up from a mere 1.8 per cent in the same quarter of 2003.

Mark Ottaway, managing director for Nielsen/NetRatings in New Zealand, said that compared unfavourably with Australian penetration at 34 per cent.

"I was talking to some Australians about this last month and they were unhappy about Australia's rate of uptake, let alone New Zealand's."

Australian figures put broadband penetration there at 34 per cent.

"Basically we're in a similar position to where Australia was a year ago, but look at the difference now." Ottaway said the result showed concern over New Zealand's broadband uptake was valid and it deserved scrutiny.

"While we have traditionally held our heads high in this country for things like acceptance of technology and access to the internet, that is certainly not the case with broadband connections from the home."

Ottaway said the improvement in New Zealand's penetration year on year was encouraging but was starting from a very low base.

"Clearly there is a long way to go yet."

Telecom has announced its plans to deliver broadband to 250,000 residential subscribers by the end of 2005. At present it has around 80,000.