Nearly 50 million Western European households will take up broadband by 2013, growing broadband penetration to 71% from 44% in 2007, according to Forrester Research's "Western European Residential Broadband Forecast: 2008-2013."

Forrester said that challenges would accompany that growth.

"In 2007, we estimate the level of churn to be 20% across Western Europe [and] this will peak in 2012 at 31%," said Pete Nuthall, an analyst at Forrester. "Incumbents will need to reassess existing retention strategies in the light of increased price-based competition from alternative ISPs."

Scandinavian countries will continue to have the highest broadband penetration in Western Europe at 85%.

Forrester projected that, by 2013, there will be high-speed Internet access in 82% of UK households, 72% of German households and nearly 70% of those in France.