Research firm NOP World has reported that the cheapening of access has been the contributing factor behind the country’s Internet boom (doesn't take a genius to work that out).

26.8 million Britons, roughly half the population, connected to the Internet at home or work during the first half of the year, 40% of them via broadband connections.

In that period, 1.9 million Britons went online for the first time in their lives, the fastest growth spurt in the past three years.

The rise in Internet usage is also having a noticeable impact on Britons' daily lives. "The online and offline behaviour of broadband users is significantly different from the general population," they said. "We are seeing a knock-on impact through many off-line activities for broadband users, such as a decrease in TV viewing."