NTL, Hampshire-based provider of residential broadband Internet services, has signed up its 500,000th broadband Internet customer at home.

Barclay Knapp, chief executive of NTL said: "This is a remarkable achievement and testament to the quality of our broadband services."

NTL's 500,000th broadband Internet customer was James Dunne from Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.

He is now enjoying NTL's 1Mb broadband service. He said: "The difference is amazing. No more waiting to dial up and the speed is incredible.

"Now I've tried broadband I could never go back using a dial-up service."

According to NTL estimates, in homes with a choice between NTL broadband and ADSL, roughly 80 per cent choose NTL broadband, and of the total UK broadband user base, 60 per cent have selected broadband via cable modem.