Ofcom's latest Digital Progress Report concluded that broadband take up across the UK has reached record levels with over half of adults having broadband installed.
This figure compared to just 39 per cent last year, according to the research.
It is estimated that over 13 million UK homes and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) now have a broadband connection, compared with around 330,000 in 2001.
Ofcom believes that increased choice and more competitive pricing in the UK broadband market has helped to ensure the rapid spread of the technology, especially as providers now offer broadband as part of a complete home entertainment package.
In particular, many households are no longer opting to try out home internet connections with dial-up products, with 76 per cent of those without a current internet service planning to opt straight for broadband.
Ofcom chief executive Ed Richards said: "With over half of UK adults now using broadband at home, we have reached a very significant milestone in the development of broadband Britain. Consumers are responding positively to the competition and innovation that the UK market now offers."
The rise in broadband penetration is good news for the growing number of video search engines that aim to capitalise on faster connection speeds.
AOL already includes two separate video search aggregators within its AOL Video site, while a recent eMarketer survey highlighted that a main user gripe when it comes to online video is the inability to accurately locate desired content.
