Likewise, if a customer pays a monthly fee for unlimited dial-up access, their current supplier almost certainly provides an equivalent broadband deal for less.

However, broadband has taken off and recently overtook dial-up access.

It now relied on its dial-up access customers for less than 20 per cent of its traffic, he said.

Still, dial-up access remains dominant in rural areas.

Reasons for retaining dial-up access include lack of infrastructure and high broadband prices.