Besides all the political, legal, and cultural machinations driving the need to resolve outstanding digital content and copyright issues, the spread of broadband is also quickening the pulse:

The global number of broadband subscribers grew 72 per cent in 2002 to approximately 62 million, according to a report from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Home users are driving the vast majority of broadband demand.

"Broadband is arriving at a time when the revolutionary potential of the internet has still to be fully tapped," said Dr Tim Kelly, head of the Strategy and Policy Unit at ITU.

....In many markets, increased competition among broadband service providers has also triggered lower prices for consumers, boosting demand and making access more affordable, according to ITU's report, Birth of Broadband.

And the study suggests that broadband access may also help fuel consumer spending.

...."The dotcom boom was driven by the expectation that the internet would create a large market for electronic commerce, on-demand content, and online applications," said Kelly.

"Broadband brings this expectation one step closer to reality by offering faster speeds and a better platform for the development of content services. In other words, the reality is finally starting to catch up with the market hype." [vnunet.com]