World Fixed Line Broadband Internet Connections Top 613 Million in Q1 2012

Telecoms analyst firm Point Topic UK has today revealed that the world is now home to a total of 612.6 million fixed line broadband ISP subscribers, which is up by 2.7% on the 597 Million recorded in Q4-2011 (growth was slightly lower at 2.6% during Q4-2011); some 42.5% of global net additions came from China alone.

In terms of access technology, DSL based broadband solutions (ADSL2+ etc.) remain the dominant connectivity service and account for a whopping 60.4% of the overall market (down from 60.8% in Q4 2011). Meanwhile cable (e.g. Virgin Media) providers fell ever so slightly from 19.4% in Q4-2011 to 19.3% in Q1-2012.

As usual the new generation of truly fibre optic (FTTH/P/B etc.) and slower hybrid fibre (FTTC/VDSL) broadband services continue to cannibalise DSL and cable subscribers, growing from a combined total of 16.7% in Q4-2011 to 17% in Q1-2012. By comparison Satellite and mobile services were unchanged over Q4-2011 on 1.9%.

Elsewhere the world is now home to a total of 65.6 million IPTV (broadband internet TV) subscribers, which is up by 3.8 million in the quarter.