One in five homes broadband-connected by 2010

The number of households with broadband continues to grow, with one in five households worldwide predicted to have a fixed broadband connection by the end of 2009.

This would mean that 422 million households have a fixed broadband connection in 2009, according to Gartner, up from 282 million in 2008.

By 2013, this is predicted to rise to 580 million.

The UK was 11th in the broadband league table when it came to market penetration, at 63 per cent.

This was ahead of the US but behind countries like the top three in South Korea (86 per cent), the Netherlands (80 per cent), and Denmark (75 per cent).

Gartner predicted connected households in the UK would rise by slightly more than three million by 2013, meaning that a little less than three quarters of British households (71 per cent) would have broadband.

Amanda Sabia, Gartner principle research analyst, claimed in a statement that the economic downturn wasn't having as big an impact as might have been expected.

"Consumers may be watching their household expenditure, but dropping their broadband connections is not at the top of their agendas as a way to reduce outgoings," she said.

She claimed that multiple motivations kept broadband growth strong, such as cheaper PCs, migration from dial-up and more affordable broadband connectivity.

Economic and broadband specific stimulus plans in various countries are also keeping broadband uptake rates strong, according to Gartner.