The number of fixed broadband subscribers is expected to approach 1-billion by 2019.
Technology market research firm Infonetcis Research has released excerpts from its new FTTH, DSL and Cable Subscribers report, which tracks and forecasts global fixed broadband subscribers, including DSL, cable broadband, FTTH, and FTTB+LAN subscribers.
“Fixed broadband subscribers grew 8% in 2014, reaching 733-million as service providers around the world continue to steadily add subscribers. This is a reflection of the importance of broadband connectivity in the daily lives of individuals and businesses, governments and other organisations,” says Jeff Heynen, research director for broadband access and pay TV at Infonetics Research, now part of HIS.
“Broadband has become a consumer-driven industry. Consumers essentially saved the fixed broadband business by binging on Netflix and other streaming video services, and now broadband providers are consistently investing in higher-end FTTX and DOCSIS 3.0 technologies to keep those innovators happy,” Heynen says.
Though DSL remains far and away the largest technology choice for fixed broadband, subscriber growth is being driven by FTTH and DOCSIS 3.0Asia Pacific holds 50% of the world’s fixed broadband subscribers and continues to experience significant subscriber growth thanks to China, Southeast Asia and emerging markets where broadband penetration continues to increase.
FTTH subscribers jumped 22% in 2014 from 2013, crossing the 100-million threshold for the first time.
Asia Pacific holds 50% of the world’s fixed broadband subscribers and continues to experience significant subscriber growth thanks to China, Southeast Asia and emerging markets where broadband penetration continues to increase, and China Telecom is the worldwide broadband subscriber market share leader.
Infonetics/IHS forecasts global fixed broadband subscribers to grow at a 5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2014 to 2019, led by China, Russia, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.