NZ surfers persisting with dial-up

New Zealand is lagging behind Australia in high-speed internet connections, a study says.

The Ericsson study, which was compiled with the help of the Melbourne Business School, says broadband is not expected to become the preferred method of internet surfing in New Zealand until early 2007.

This is almost a year later than Australia, where the number of broadband users is expected to overtake the number of dial-up subscribers in early to mid-2006.

The study also found greater momentum for the uptake of broadband in Australia, where there are intense marketing campaigns.

Another worrying statistic for the advocates of broadband is that of New Zealanders without internet, only 32 per cent said they would look at getting it. Of those, only half would go straight on to broadband, with the other half taking dial-up.

In Australia, 43 per cent of those without broadband are considering going on-line. Of those, about two-thirds would get broadband and one-third would get dial-up.

The study found the speed of the service was not the most important factor in converting from dial-up to broadband, rather the cost and the ability to free up the phone line were the deciding factors.

The last OECD report on broadband take-up has New Zealand placed 22 out of 23 countries.

- NZPA