Thursday, September 22, 2005

Broadband Penetration Slowing

Sez Pew:

The survey, published by independent think tank Pew Internet & American Life Project, found that high-speed Internet adoption, after growing quickly in the past several years, has been losing steam and is poised to slow even further. During the first six months of 2005, 53 percent of home Internet users said they use a broadband connection, up from only 50 percent during the previous six months.
...
Pew attributed the slowdown in broadband penetration to a maturing of the market. Early adopters, who are typically savvy about the Internet, well-educated and well-paid, have already signed up for broadband service.

Today's dial-up customers, by contrast, tend to be older adults with lower incomes and educational levels. Most importantly, they do not use the Internet to do much beyond basic Web surfing and e-mailing.


I think this slowdown is a blip, really, and it's one of those things that will have a generational impact as the kids--you know, these kids with their hula hoops, their rock and roll, and their fax machines--grow up and move out on their own. In the future, high-speed Internet access will probably be as much of a basic utility as a telephone. Of course, I think WiFi will end up being more important, but first things first...

No comments: