No Broadband?, no christmas!

• Most popular Christmas presents require broadband to release potential but households could miss out due to 10-day installation period

• Britons could save almost £325 million by upgrading their broadband packages

• Broadband take-up could top 9 million by the end of December 2005

Broadband is the number one Christmas present this year, according to independent comparison and switching company uSwitch.com. As many as 60,000 people are signing up every week , in the knowledge that Broadband will help them make the most of presents topping this year's Christmas wish lists. The new Xbox 360, iPod Nano and Sony PSP are among the most popular presents requiring broadband to release their full potential.

Xbox 360s have already sold out, with sales exceeding 75,000 units, meaning Britons have spent over £208 million. With the overall spend this Christmas estimated at £813 per person, anything from 14% to 34% of that budget could be spent on one of the most popular electronic gifts alone. It is therefore essential that people ensure they have sufficiently high-speed internet connections to get the most out of these gifts.

Up to 60% of UK households’ Internet connections are estimated to be broadband, with the majority being 1Mb packages . However, anyone that signed up for a 1Mb broadband deal 12 months ago is unquestionably paying too much, having paid around £30 (£360 annually). With so many sophisticated presents under Christmas trees this year, and the introduction of more bespoke broadband content and technology set to enter the market, uSwitch recommends a minimum package of 2Mbps. These deals are now available for as little as £14.99 per month (£179.88 annually), which could constitute an annual saving of £180.12 for a connection that is twice as fast.

Top-selling electronic gifts this Christmas

• Apple iPod Nano - £139.00

• Sony PSP - £179.99

• Slimline Playstation 2 - £114.99

• Advanced MP3 Player - £159.00

• Xbox 360 – £277.00 (pre-order cost)

Jon Miller, Director at uSwitch.com comments, "The broadband market has moved on, and packages are now available at nearly half the price. Customers could save up to £180 a year by switching – the cost of a Sony PSP! Collectively, that could be a saving of £324 million simply by upgrading to a superior 2Mbps package.

“The explosion in broadband is set to continue in 2006, and customers will need at least 2Mbps to keep up with developments. It is therefore worth reviewing packages every three months, and we would recommend checking out suppliers who do not tie customers to fixed-term contracts."

To ensure that the best presents don't remain unplugged on Christmas day, it is essential to act now! It takes around ten days to install a high-speed connection, sometimes more. For customers who are upgrading or switching, it is important to shop around for the different broadband packages available.