Broadband to reach 650m households by 2013
July 8, 2009
The number of households worldwide with broadband will reach close to 650 million by 2013, according to a report from international research firm Parks Associates. Most of that growth will come in Asia.
According to the report, broadband households worldwide grew by over 18 percent in 2008 to pass 400 million. Asia-Pacific is the largest market, with over 160 million subscribers, and will account for 49 percent of the global market by 2013.
In the U.S., broadband penetration still lags behind some other developed countries. The federal government will soon release $7 billion from the stimulus package to promote expansion of affordable high speed internet in rural areas.
Jonathan Adelstein, administrator of the Rural Utilities Service, said expanding broadband in rural areas is "one of our key national priorities," in testimony before a Senate committee this week.
"Some have argued that the reason we've fallen so far in the international rankings is that we are more rural than those ahead of us," Adelstein said, according to Broadcasting & Cable.
Kurt Scherf, vice president and principal analyst at Parks Associates, said the future of broadband services will be blended applications and services such as online video.
Search Broadband Services By Company/Provider
Learn More About Types of Broadband Service
Did you know that 63% of Americans have broadband Internet service at home.
Learn more.
With cable TV, you don't have to worry about digital transition or picture quality.
Learn more.
Most digital voice services will let you keep you old home # & save more money.
Learn more.
