The government seems to think that any Internet access technology can be a broadband one if marketed that way, but they're not the only ones sending a confused signal.

Now even the UK telecoms regulator, Oftel, appears to have its wires crossed about the definition of what is and isn't broadband:

Here's its usual definition: "'Dial-up'or 'narrowband' Internet access is used...for access speeds up to and including 128 kilobits per second (kbps). 'Broadband' is used...to refer to higher bandwidth, always-on services, offering data rates of 128 kbps and above."

But hang on a mo. What's this from Oftel's stunningly interesting document Review of the wholesale unmetered narrowband Internet termination market, consultation - 17 March 2003?

"Oftel also includes NTL's 128 kbit/s offering in the narrowband market. Although this is marketed as 'broadband', it has only some, not all, of the key characteristics of broadband. It is always on and allows use of the telephone at the same time but is not as fast as other services marketed as broadband."

So, amazingly, NTLs 128Kbps product is both a narrowband and broadband product. Does that mean that those with a true 24/7 128Kbps ISDN connection also have broadband?

Luckily for NTL they've just increased the speed of their 128Kbps package to 150Kbps =); problem solved. More @ The Register.