Global household penetration of fixed broadband continues apace, with total subscribers on track to break the 500-million barrier next year, according to recent research from Futuresource Consulting.

“More than 60% of all fixed broadband households on the planet are connecting using xDSL, where digital data transmission takes place over a local telephone network, while cable accounts for a little over 20%,” says Patrik Pfandler, Senior Market Analyst, Futuresource Consulting.

“And although markets in many developed countries are becoming saturated, alternative hot spots are starting to emerge: our research shows Africa and the Middle East will experience spikes this year that equate to 33% growth.

“Longer term, India is the country to watch out for over the next four years. With one of the lowest household penetration rates for fixed broadband at the moment - at just over 2%, or five million subscribers – the market is projected to grow five-fold by 2013, to almost 25 million lines.”

Japan and South Korea lead the way when it comes to broadband speeds, with average download speeds of approximately 30Mb/s each. Looking to Europe, Sweden comes out on top, averaging 14Mb/s last year. In the US, the national average achieved last year was just 2.7Mb/s.

“Download speeds are becoming the next broadband battleground for the ISPs in developed countries,” says Pfandler, “with network upgrades over the next four to five years providing a number of players with that much-needed edge in a commoditised market.”

Story filed 14.07.09