London, 18 June 2007— World broadband lines passed 281 million

The total number of broadband lines with an annual increase of 32.3% from 212.8 million at 31 December 2005 rose to 281.5 million in December 2006. The table and graph below depicts how the total is broken down.

According to the figures in the table 1, the growth once again was driven mainly by Asia-Pacific and Europe with 36.3% and 35.1% annual increase respectively in the number of broadband lines to reach 111.8 and 89.1 million by 31 December 2006. Americas’ growth was much slower at 23.8%, where the number of broadband subscribers rose to just over 77.7 million lines by the same date.

Middle East-Africa, the fourth largest market has again shown the fastest regional trend growth. The region is standing at an annual growth rate of 39.9% to reach nearly 2.9 million lines by the end of December 2006.

The findings also point to the fact that xDSL with trend growth of 30.8% reaching 184.1 million by 31 December 2006 is acting as the engine of broadband growth. Cable modem meanwhile has shown a less robust 20.6% annual growth compare to xDSL rose to just over 63 million lines by the same period.

Other Technologies with 73.6% annual growth shows the fastest access technology with an increase in the number of broadband lines to 34.2 million by the end of fourth quarter of 2006.
Graph 2 shows xDSL, Cable modem and other technologies trend growth through Q4 2005- Q4 2006 period.

 

 

The report includes data for over 320 operators in 83 countries.

 

 

For more information about this press release or our tailored reports, please contact Pauline Vahey at:
pauline.v@quantum-web.com