BT becomes the first provider to serve 5m broadband customers

BT became the first UK internet service provider to sign up five million broadband customers on 9 December, thanks to chip shop worker Elizabeth Patterson of East Kilbride, Glasgow.

The provider’s managing director of BT’s Consumer division, John Petter said BT was now working hard to achieve its new goal of 6 million broadband subscribers. It was also revealed the provider managed to bag the final one million customers in just over two years.

Petter said: “Broadband has the ability to transform people’s lives and the fact that we are still showing strong take-up when there are more than 14m ADSL broadband customers in the UK is testament to the unique benefits of being connected.”

He also made a special mention to Project Canvas, which has just been given the green light by the BBC Trust, and to which BT is a partner alongside the BBC, ITV, Five, Channel 4 and TalkTalk: “The UK’s intensely competive market for broadband has meant UK customers have enjoyed superb innovation and low prices. There is more to come, as we believe bringing the content of things like iPlayer and ITVPlayer to the TV set via broadband is going to have a transformational effect when we launch Project Canvas with our partners next year.

Ms Patterson, the five millionth BT broadband customer was awarded a luxury trip to Vancouver to watch the Winter Olympics, including the closing ceremony to mark the five million milestone. The 42-year old mother of two commented: “I am really excited to have won this prize, as I have never been to Canada before. I decided to sign up for broadband so that I could shop online for Christmas presents and so that my son Jamie, who is 11, can use the internet to help with his homework.”