According to Infonetics Research, the number of global fixed broadband subscribers - including DSL, cable broadband, and fiber technologies such as FTTH, and FTTB+LAN - will approach 1 billion in 2019, led by growth in China. The research house says fixed broadband subscriber numbers grew 8% in 2014, reaching 733 million. Other findings indicate:
- Though DSL remains the largest technology choice for fixed broadband, subscriber growth is being driven by FTTH and DOCSIS 3.0. FTTH numbers increased 22% in 2014 from 2013, crossing the 100 million threshold for the first time.
- The Asia-Pacific region 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.
- China Telecom is the worldwide broadband subscriber market share leader.
- Infonetics/IHS forecasts global fixed broadband subscriber numbers 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.