Page Impressions Ltd Blogcetera: 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

UK ISP, Cable and Dongle Users January 2011

Here is an update of the UK ISP market covering DSL and Cable Access market as well as the Mobile Dongle market in the UK. I have used ITU published data for Broadband usage numbers and Neilson Ratings and ISP published figures to get an accurate picture as well all the reports and disclosures for each of the companies shown below. I believe these figures represent a reasonably accurate representation of the genuine adoption of broadband either via DSL, Cable or mobile dongle. Broadband connections included in this data cover download speeds equal to or faster than 256kbit/s

ISP


Total

% of UK Accts.

BT (inc Plusnet)


5,341,000

27.00%

Talk Talk


4,249,000

21.50%

Virgin Media


4,242,000

21.49%

Sky


3,006,000

15.20%

Orange


795,000

4.00%

O2 (Be Broadband)


663,800

3.40%

Royal Mail



600,000


3.00%

3 (Mobile Dongles)


255,000

1.30%

T-Mobile (Dongle)


195,000

0.90%

Vodafone (Dongle)


190,000

0.80%

Kingston


178,200

0.70%

Thus


93,000

0.50%


The UK Broadband market has become very concentrated with almost 20 million broadband accounts with over 98% concentrated in the top twelve providers with a high degree of consolidation among the top 5 players. The standard speed offering has increased from around 2Mb to 8Mb over the past two years, however many of the grand claims of the leading providers offering 20Mb broadband access is far of the mark with most only achieving 7-8 Mb on average.
The super fast 40Mb and 50Mb deals are beginning to enter the market but mainly only appeal to specialist hard care users in the consumer market.

Whilst the growth of mobile dongles has slowed the market continues to evolve. There are a number of players offering a range of speeds and costs. The market for the iPad and Kindle 3G devices is growing very quickly through sim only offerings. The new tablet applications such as the iPad and Samsung Galaxy and the soon to be launched Motorola Zoom represent the most exciting sector of the market and the mobile networks are likely to be climbing over each other to offer the 3G broadband connectivity. A quick look at the offerings below reveal the developments in the dongle market which will form the basis of any 3G Sim deals for the new tablets.

Who offers mobile broadband via mobile broadband dongles?

  • Vodafone offers a range of mobile broadband dongles, the most popular being its small and speedy "USB Modem stick" starting at £15 a month. With speeds of up to 7.2Mb and download allowance of 3Gb, this offer is a real no-brainer.
  • 3's mobile USB modem dongle comes free on many of the 3 packages. Offering 1Gb downloads and speeds of up to 7.2Mb, 3’s £10 per month offer is great value for money.
  • T Mobile's USB dongles offer speeds of up to 7.2Mb and download allowances of 3Gb - 9/10 T Mobile customers say it "works like a dream".
  • Orange's dongle is the sleekest and fastest they've ever made, offering speeds of up to 7.2Mb.
  • Virgin Media was late to the mobile broadband market, but it is making some very attractive offers speeds of up 7.2Mb at excellent price points.
  • O2 dongles get you online at speeds of up to 3.6Mb and start from just £10 per month.