Internet New Zealand is warning New Zealand is losing the battle for broadband uptake according to the latest figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
The figures for 2005 show New Zealand ranks 22nd out of 30 nations, the same as for 2004.
The government hopes to lift broadband use into the top half of the OECD by 2007, and into the top quarter by 2010. But Internet New Zealand warns this is virtually impossible.
Executive director Keith Davidson says 330,000 people or just over 8% of the population have broadband connections.
He says that number will have to triple to meet the government's 2007 targets.
He says if nothing is done New Zealand will languish near the bottom of the OECD table alongside countries such as Turkey, Mexico and Eastern Europe.
