Broadband to continue solid growth, firm says

By Colleen Taylor -- Electronic News, 2/13/2007

Broadband web connections are on the rise and showing no signs of slowing down, according to some analysts. The latest update to ABI Research's online broadband subscribers database forecasts that the total number of DSL and cable broadband users in the world will grow by an average of nine percent annually over the next five years to reach 480 million subscribers by 2012.

"The Asia-Pacific region offers a potentially huge market to tap into," broadband research analyst Serene Fong, of ABI Research's Asia bureau. "In terms of statistical benchmarking, the subscriber base in the Asia-Pacific region will grow substantially over the next five years, and is expected to outperform other areas. Much of the Asia-Pacific growth is expected to be fueled by the flourishing Chinese broadband market."

In line with what other market researchers have projected, ABI said broadband DSL will continue to be the fastest growing sector in the industry, as opposed to cable broadband, the firm said, since it is able to leverage existing telecommunications infrastructure.