FTTH to expand in Asia Pacific

In a new study focused on residential FTTH in the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com) finds that different markets within the region are currently in very different stages of broadband growth.

�While broadband adoption is increasing within APAC, growth is not homogeneous across all countries in the region,� explains research analyst Serene Fong. �For instance, Hong Kong is one of the early adopters of FTTH and has the largest FTTH household penetration, currently 21%. On the other hand, countries such as China and India are still struggling to encourage greater broadband usage,� notes Fong.

For now, most FTTH activity is still in the more developed countries within the region: Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. Generally speaking, broadband penetration in the APAC region is still relatively low compared to the rest of the world. Fong says demand is mainly determined by customer premises equipment and infrastructure costs.

�Carriers are also waiting to ride on economies of scale in order to offer more attractive and affordable packages� to consumers looking for rich multimedia content, she adds.

ABI Research�s �Fiber Optic Services for Residences in APAC Markets� analyzes broadband development in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, and India, and addresses market activities and deployments within the DSL, cable broadband, and FTTX wireline platforms.