Despite growing take-up of broadband technologies and increased use of ecommerce, the UK has lost ground in the annual league table of the world’s leading IT nations. The 2003 Information Society Index, produced by IDC and World Times, places the UK only 11th out of 55 countries analysed each year – a fall of four places. The US was 8th.

Countries gain scores on a range of issues that are seen as promoting technological advancement, including PC and web penetration, telecommunications infrastructure, government corruption and press freedom. Sweden topped the list for the second year running, closely followed by Denmark the Netherlands, Norway and Finland.