There is an increase in global demand for broadband access with connections expected to reach the 500million mark and Africa is set to be the biggest beneficiary, this according to new research.
Futuresource Consulting predicts that home broadband connections will break the 500 million barrier for the first time next year.
Around 60 percent of broadband connections use DSL technology, with another fifth relying on cable systems.
According to the Research the biggest growth is likely to be seen in developing countries, with broadband links in Africa and the Middle East increasing by a third in just one year.
“Longer term, India is the country to watch out for over the next four years,” says Patrik Pfandler, Senior Market Analyst. “With one of the lowest household penetration rates for fixed broadband at the moment – at just over 2 per cent – the market is projected to grow five-fold by 2013, to almost 25 million lines.”
In Europe, Sweden comes out on top, averaging 14Mbps last year, while the UK average is hovering at around 4.3Mbps. In the US, the national average achieved last year was just 2.7Mbps.
Wireless services in Africa have seen massive growth in recent years. Research firm Informa Telecoms and Media in 2001 noted that, the number of Africa’s wireless telecommunication subscribers had overtaken the number of fixed-line subscribers in Africa, and they projected that there would be 310 million wireless subscribers across the continent by 2010.
The cost of deployment in Africa is relatively high, due to a lack of power and transmission.
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