Posted: 17th Dec, 2005 By: MarkJ
DSL Forum reports that the European Union (EU) added 14,996,843 broadband xDSL (ADSL etc.) subscribers in the twelve months to 30th September 2005 (a 56.4% growth), reaching a total of 41,580,074!:
Almost 40 million people worldwide signed up for digital subscriber line (DSL) technology for their broadband access in the 12 months to 30 September 2005, according to the latest data produced for the DSL Forum by industry analyst Point Topic. That growth of 45% over 100,000 every day means that more than 125 million homes and businesses now enjoy the benefits of broadband DSL. By the end of 2005, global DSL subscribers will approach 140 million, extending its share of the total broadband access market.
European Union countries accounted for close to 40% of the total growth in new broadband DSL subscribers in the period, confirming the EUs position as the number one most active DSL region worldwide. The UK and France led the way, each adding more than three million subscribers.
The UK breakdown of those figures looks a little bit like this:
UK:
* The UK added more than three million new DSL subscribers in the 12 months to 30 September 2005, bringing the total figure to 6,381,000 a growth of 91%.
* The UK is the seventh ranked country by total DSL subscribers.
* The UK is the second fastest growing of the established DSL populations globally.
* The UK is the tenth ranked country worldwide in terms of market penetration, with 18.16% of all telephone lines (per 100 lines) currently delivering DSL services approaching the DSL Forums first stage target for a global mass-market for broadband DSL (20% of all phone lines).
The report points to improvements in 'Quality of Service' and IPTV as being two of several key elements needed to help keep xDSL technology buoyant.