The number of broadband connections in the UK has exceeded dial-up usage for the first time. BT figures show that there are now more than 7.4 million broadband users, with two million using cable and 5.4 on DSL.

BT CEO Ben Verwaayen is reported as saying 'I know people's memories are short but I don't think that anybody three years ago had even the faintest hope this would happen. I remember when I came into BT it was not in anyone's imagination.'

Broadband is now available to 99.6 per cent of UK homes, the same proportion that has running water, Verwaayen noted