Broadband Britain spends 5 weeks a year online

Broadband is now present in almost 13 million UK homes and the nation’s love affair with the internet is getting more intense, with over 4 million new internet subscriptions in the last 2 years alone. The average UK broadband user spends the equivalent of 34 days- or over a month - in every year using the internet, which means we are devoting over 15 hours a week to exploring cyber space, according to research by independent comparison and switching service uSwitch.com.

“I can’t live without MySpace” and “I’m addicted to Facebook” are now common statements among friends and colleagues. While many may regard these as throwaway comments, uSwitch.com reveals that 780,000 adults spend more time networking online than socialising in real life. The survey of over 10,500 broadband users shows that we are devoting a staggering 5 weeks a year on the internet, more than the time we spend eating and drinking, on personal grooming or going out.

The emergence of social networking sites is having a real impact on everyday lives, with half of all broadband users now logging onto sites such as Facebook, MySpace and MSN Messenger. Social networking has overtaken online shopping, banking and downloading music as the most popular online activity after surfing the net and emailing. While the average internet user now devotes 2 hours a week shopping online and a total of 2 hours a week banking online and downloading music, they now spend 3 hours a week – or 6 days a year – on ‘virtual’ networking.

Yet, despite having one of the most competitive markets in Europe, 74% of broadband customers haven’t switched supplier in the last year and nearly half (42%) have never switched. So when it comes to paying for broadband it should be a case of heads over hearts as customers could save an average of almost £100 or up to £240 a year by switching supplier once their fixed contracts come to an end.

7.8 million broadband customers today, pay between £15 to over £30 a month for the service they receive, with the average cost standing at £18 a month. With 60% of existing broadband users potentially paying more than they should be for their contracts and collectively wasting £749 million a year, or the equivalent of £62.4 million a month, it is more important than ever for people to shop around. The cheapest standalone broadband deals are offered by Plusnet and Virgin Media (until the end of July) and cost around £10 a month. Additionally, with a range of ‘free broadband’ offers flooding the market from suppliers like Talk Talk, Orange and Sky it simply doesn’t make sense for anyone to be paying over the odds.

Steve Weller Head of Communications Services at uSwitch.com comments: “It’s very exciting to see Britain taking broadband by the scruff of the neck and making full use of the online world in today’s demanding 24/7 environment. The uptake of broadband in the past few years has been nothing short of explosive and this will certainly continue, especially with the constant innovation in the market.

“We are not surprised to find that the average internet user is spending nearly a week a year socialising online. We’ve seen huge growth in this phenomenon over the last couple of years - MySpace has reached over 100 million users and the second most visited site of its kind, Facebook, has 30 million members. Consumers from all walks of life are embracing the trend - while three quarters (73%) of those visiting social networking sites are aged 18-29 years, a third (33%) of the over 50’s are also taking part in the online phenomenon.

“The fast moving pace of the broadband market and increased competition in the industry sparked a price war over the past eighteen months. This has been exciting news for consumers as it has brought along the advent of free broadband and very competitive pricing. However, consumers need to vote with their feet to take advantage of these new deals and ensure they are not wasting money on more expensive packages. Where free broadband is bundled with mobile phone, digital TV or landline packages, those thinking of signing up should consider the cost implications of the attached products and the contract length. Alternatively, those users who prefer a standalone broadband product really shouldn’t have to pay much more than £10 a month.”