The Office of National Statistics said that 17% of net-using households now have a broadband connection and that numbers using higher-speed connections is set to grow fast as more and more high-speed services are made available.
The growth in broadband in the UK comes as BT prepares to upgrade its exchange equipment to meet the growing demand from consumers, 47% of whom are now online.
Last month, BT announced it had passed its initial target, set in February last year, of 1m wholesale broadband connections by summer 2003.
The study showed that while 47% of the adult population is online almost 54% have accessed the internet in some way, with 81% of those doing so via a dial-up connection.
The figure could dramatically increase if new schemes such as high-speed access via the electricity network comes to fruition.
With the Powerline technology, internet surfers could be able to access the net by simply buying a connector that plugs into an electrical socket.
The scheme is currently being tested by Scottish Hydro-Electric and it has already been trialled in Crieff and Campbeltown. The Powerline technology will also be offered to customers of electrical companies.
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