• by February 8, 2001

More good news for rich media advertisers. Nielsen//NetRatings today revealed that high-speed Internet access, including ISDN, LAN, cable modems and DSL connections, jumped 148% among home users in December 2000 as compared to the same period in 1999.

Nearly 12 million home Web users accessed the Internet with a high-speed connection in December, as compared to five million people a year ago.

Interestingly enough, "Streaming media is one of the chief incentives prompting users to switch to high-speed Web access, which is fast becoming the must-have service in the home," said T.S. Kelly, director of Internet Media Strategies at NetRatings. "That said, improvements in quality, ease-of- use, and accessibility must continue if streaming consumption is to become as commonplace as broadcast or cable television."

More people currently connect at 56 Kbps than any other Web speed, jumping 87% in the past year. In comparison, a year ago, most people accessed the Internet with a connection speed of 28.8/33.6 Kbps.

The number of users with slower modem speeds of 14.4 Kbps and 28.8/33.6 Kbps has declined, while those with a 56 Kbps and higher connection speed increased their overall group share to 12% from 6% a year ago.

"Despite the current attention focused on broadband, nearly two-thirds of the home Web audience log online via a 56 Kbps modem," said Kelly. "Modems connecting at 56 Kbps are still in growth mode, partly propelled by the free ISP movement."