Broadband users willing to pay online

A survey of European consumers by research firm Jupiter has found that a quarter of broadband users would be prepared to purchase music on the net.

This compares to just 18% of dial-up users.

18% of broadband users said they would pay for video content compared to 11% of dial-up users.

The changing attitudes of users who have experienced fast net services will be music to the ears of content providers, desperate to make money out of online services.

Gradual change

" Broadband internet users are far more likely to pay for music, gaming and video content than dial-up users "
Olivier Beauvillain, Jupiter Research

There is some way to go to convince users to part with their cash online though.

According to the Jupiter survey 41% of all European internet users said that they still would not be willing to pay for content.

"There has not been a dramatic shift in the minds of European internet users when it comes to paying for online content but rather a gradual change," said Jupiter Research analyst Olivier Beauvillain.

"The good news is that broadband appears to be the main driver behind this change - broadband internet users are far more likely to pay for music, gaming and video content than dial-up users," he said.

Connection fee waived

" "The connection fee is a financial and psychological barrier to take-up "
Dan Cole, Demon

In the UK the drive to convince users to upgrade to broadband continues apace.

Following temporary cuts in the wholesale price BT charges for connectivity, internet service provider Demon has decided to waive the connection fee for all its broadband products.

Users upgrading to Demon's £24.99 per month ADSL service will no longer pay the £50 connection fee.

The move could help persuade more users to switch to broadband said Demon's product manager Dan Cole.

"The connection fee is a financial and psychological barrier to take-up," he said.

The free connection will initially be available until March but Demon is hopeful that BT will make its wholesale cut permanent meaning it can extend the offer.

"BT is committed to getting a million broadband users by next year and it will not help its cause if it reverted to the old set-up fees," said Mr Cole.