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Almost 16.5 million households in the UK now have internet access, an increase of 1.2 million since 2007, the latest official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics ONS said the new figure represented close to two-thirds of UK households.

Homes in the South East are most likely to have internet access with those in north-east England least likely.

Over two-thirds of adults go online every day or almost every day, with men more regular users than women.

Graph showing rise in internet connectivity since 2005

In the 35% of households with no access, there was an increase in the proportion that said they did not want the internet at home, from 3% in 2006 to 24% in 2008.

The survey also found that the better educated were more likely to be online.

Graph showing rise in internet connectivity since 2005

The ONS said that 93% of adults aged under 70 who had a university degree or equivalent qualification had internet access.

This compared with just 56% of those with no formal qualifications being online.

Communications regulator Ofcom said earlier this month that PC and laptop use had grown fourfold since 2002.

BBC NEWS | Two-thirds of UK homes now online

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Businesses looking to boost their internet speeds could be able to do so without having to invest large quantities of money or time, it has been claimed.

According to independent broadband information website Thinkbroadband.com, many businesses could acquire faster, more reliable internet access simply by refining their existing connections.

Andrew Ferguson, editor of the site, explained that enterprises with broadband connections may be able to improve their existing connection by checking with their internet service provider if any speed upgrades are available, for a small extra monthly fee.

He also advised those companies utilising an ADSL connection to “tidy up telephone wiring” to ensure that it doesn’t affect speeds of these services.

“Broadband can be a lot cheaper than ISDN or leased lines that companies previously used, so those who adopted the internet model early will see savings,” he said, noting that broadband also brings with it benefits such as access to VoIP which can reduce telephone call costs.

For those who require additional speeds, broadband suppliers are currently debating plans to release next-generation super-fast broadband networks, although it could be several years before such connections are available across the nation.

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