BT has reached it's target of 5 million ADSL customers, well ahead of it's 2006 target date.The target, when it was set nearly three year ago, seemed to be very optimistic, but with nearly 99.5% of households being able to get broadband and the ever falling cost due to competition between ISP's it has been reached early."Three years ago when we set a target of five million by 2006 it seemed a daunting task. To have reached this milestone so early into 2005 is a massive achievement for the whole industry. The momentum of broadband is continuing to build.""The latest million connections have come in just four months, and BT is connecting a customer every ten seconds. But now the focus needs to move from broadband availability towards the ways in which broadband can improve people’s lives. At work through greater productivity, and at home by delivering a whole range of new services." Ben Verwaayen, BT CEO The BT boss also outlined the benefits and his vision for the future. The UK economy could be boosted by up to 7.5 billion pounds through productivity gains attributed to broadband Up to 16 billion fewer miles could be driven as broadband enables more people to work from home and shop online Every school child in Britain will be able to learn via broadband More than 18 million people in the UK will be shopping online Millions of hospital outpatient appointments will be booked over broadbandWith an election looming there was no delay in quick praise from the Prime Minister.“It is great news for the whole communications industry that BT has been able to make this announcement a year ahead of target. It is also of vital importance for everyone in the UK - businesses and consumers. Broadband has the ability to transform the way we live our lives - whether in business, education or in how we use our leisure time. Most significantly of all, the adoption of broadband technology will enhance the UK's ability to compete in the modern knowledge economy.” Prime Minister, Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
