An ever increasing number of Germans want to go online. This is confirmed by significant growth rates in the number of private households having internet access. Thus, experts at the German Association for Information Management, Telecommunications and New Media (BITKOM) predict that by the end of 2008 turnover generated in the business with internet access is likely to grow by 8.5% to 8.4 billion Euros. The BITKOM forecast is based on figures provided by the EITO market research company. In 2007 the growth rate was just 7.5%.
In times of falling prices the combination of fast internet access with price-efficient phone flatrates, digital TV or online video shops makes broad band internet more and more attractive, is the explanation for the boom given by BITKOM experts. Currently the price for fast DSL access in combination with free-of-charge domestic landline calls is about 30 Euros per month.
BITKOM predicts that by the end of 2008 58% of all German households will have broad band internet access which would be an increase by 8 percent as compared to 2007.
With a share of 25% of the total market Germany is by far the biggest single market in Europe. According to the latest forecast by the EITO market research institute turnover generated in the field of internet access will amount to about 33.7 billion Euros in 2008 which would correspond to an increase of 10.2% compared to 2007.
The strongest growth rate among major EU member states is registered in France with a plus of 22.5% and a total turnover of 4.6 billion Euros. In Great Britain turnover also reached 4.6 billion Euros and a growth rate of 7.2%. In Spain turnover grew by 7.6% to 3.2 billion Euros.
According to EITO, turnover generated in the business with internet access in the EU is expected to develop dynamically and grow by 9% to 36.9 billion Euros in the year 2009. 