Higher home broadband prices leave many UK families without access
Majority of the UK families with children have broadband internet access at their homes, according to the recent findings of Point Topic Research firm. Higher broadband cost and lack of broadband infrastructure leave one third of the UK families without broadband, the study shows.
The study shows that six million families live in areas where quality broadband providers are available. However, one third of the families simply cannot afford to buy a home broadband package.
Yet, UK broadband prices are among the cheapest, comparing to other broadband developed nations in Europe, a last year survey showed.
Around 1.4 million households get access to slower speeds, not above 2Mbps while 40,000 families are found to be living in areas where broadband infrastructure (ADSL or cable) has not reached yet.
Over-all, the benefits of high-speed internet access do not reach 4 million children in the country, the analysis shows.
Lack of broadband access at home can affect these children as ‘they will have lower earning power and will create increased social costs through their lifetime compared with their peers who do have good internet access,’ the report warns.
This means, the country would need to bear an average £500 loss per year due to broadband deprived children and a total £80 billion loss over a span of 40 years, according to Point Topic.
With broadband access at home, many school children are now able to do their home-work or access useful web resources while the number of schools that provide online access to parents to know about their children’s reports is also increasing.
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