Global fixed broadband subscriptions will reach half a billion in 2010, driven by continued growth in emerging markets, according to Informa Telecoms & Media.
Fixed broadband markets in mature countries are fast approaching saturation point, but tens of millions of homes in some of the world's largest markets, such as China and India, are still without connectivity and it is these developing regions that are poised to drive a second wave of broadband growth.
The number of net new fixed broadband subscriptions in 2009 grew to over 480 million, largely as a result of accelerating growth in emerging markets. That number is expected to reach 500 million this year. China, Russia, Mexico, India and Vietnam were among the countries that recorded the greatest leaps in fixed-broadband subscription numbers in 2009.
Analyst figures indicate that seven of the top 20 countries by fixed broadband subscription count at the end of September 2009 could be classified as emerging markets. The number of net additions in each of these countries was up substantially year-on-year, while those of the world's largest developed markets were either flat or down.
Countries by fixed broadband subscriptions, September 2009:
1. China: 91,348,000
2. US: 82,846,600
3. Japan: 31,240,000
4. Germany: 25,114,300
5. France: 19,306,400
6. UK: 18,033,300
7. Korea: 16,238,262
8. Russia: 12,356,100
9. Italy: 12,116,350
10. Brazil: 10,951,600
11. Spain: 9,681,520
12. Canada: 9,562,000
13. Mexico: 8,771,100
14. India: 7,653,460
15. Netherlands: 6,274,000
16. Turkey: 6,166,800
17. Australia: 5,968,000
18. Poland: 5,654,100
19. Taiwan: 5,549,440
20. Argentina: 3,543,800
(telecoms.com, January 2010)
