Many dial-up users don’t want broadband

Many people are comfortable with dial-up internet connections and don’t want a broadband connection, according to new research reported by Time.com.

Many people are comfortable with dial-up internet connections and don’t want a broadband connection, according to new research reported by Time.com.

The authoritative Pew Internet and American Life Project asked more than 1500 US internet users how they get online. The majority, some 55%, say they have broadband access at home, up from 47% last year, while just 10% said they have dial up.

Of those still on dial-up, just 14% said they have stuck with it because faster broadband isn’t available where they live, including 24% of rural dial-up users.

Most intriguing, however, is the fact that quite a large proportion of dial-up users (19%) say nothing would persuade them to upgrade. Perhaps they like that cool sound the dial-up modem makes when it is trying to connect.

“That suggests that solving the supply problem where there are availability gaps is only going to go so far,” study author John Horrigan told Time.com. “It’s going to have to be a process of getting people more engaged with information technology and demonstrating to people it’s worth it for them to make the investment of time and money.”

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