Broadband beat a number of other engineering and technology innovations hands down. The nearest other contenders for the title were smart phones (10%) and satellite navigation (10%). Joint bottom of the list (1%) were on demand television and android phone apps.
The survey of 2,011 adults aged 16-75 in Great Britain was carried out by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the IET to find out which 21st century engineering achievements are most valued by the general public.
Prof Will Stewart of the IET said: “Engineering and technology is everywhere. All of our most recent technology innovations are the result of engineering projects: social media, tablet computers, contactless payment technology are just a few examples.
“Not too long ago, superfast broadband was a future vision for a handful of engineers. Today it is available to almost three quarters of UK homes, enriching our lives and broadening our horizons in ways that we could only dream of until recently, and yet we all now take for granted. And the technology behind this vital infrastructure is improving all the time, promising all kinds of exciting new potential for the future.”