Internet and Broadband Penetration Rates Continue To Grow

According to data from Barclays Capital, approximately 75% of U.S. households are connected to the Internet, with broadband accounting for 84% of those connections.

Online penetration is up from 50% in 2001 and they believe that penetration can get close to 80% by 2010 and that broadband homes can account for 90% of all connections, up from only 20% in 2001.

Cable and DSL broadband connections are evenly split at 47% each of total broadband connections, with the remaining 6% I assume are coming from satellite, WiMax, and connections over power lines. DSL lines are expected to surpass cable lines over time, according to Barclays Capital. That could potentially disrupt the triple play offerings from the cable companies.

It is not hard to imaging Internet penetration rates approaching 100% in the U.S. given the change in generations and growth of WiMax and projects to provide free Internet availability. Further, satellite and power lines can bring up the rear where cable and DSL cannot reach.