LONDON -- This week BT will connect its five millionth wholesale broadband customer, beating a target set by the company a year ahead of schedule. Broadband is now one of the fastest growing consumer products of all time with a higher take up rate than televisions, CD players, video recorders or mobile phones.

Ben Verwaayen, BT’s CEO said: "Three years ago when we set a target of five million by 2006 it seemed a daunting task. To have reached this milestone so early into 2005 is a massive achievement for the whole industry. The momentum of broadband is continuing to build. The latest million connections have come in just four months, and BT is connecting a customer every ten seconds. But now the focus needs to move from broadband availability towards the ways in which broadband can improve people’s lives. At work through greater productivity, and at home by delivering a whole range of new services.

BT Group plc