The number of fixed broadband subscribers increased 2.5 percent quarter-on-quarter to one billion plus in Q2 2018, the Broadband Forum revealed at Broadband World Forum 2018.
The impressive growth in the global fixed broadband market was the highest in the last six quarters, mainly due to the investment in East Asia including China. East Asia provided 70 percent of additions in fixed broadband subscribers.
Less developed regions and countries with less saturated broadband markets achieved higher growth in broadband subscriptions.
ADSL connections declined 8 percent in 2017.
FTTH/B/C connections increased 30 percent in 2017.
Cable based subscriptions rose 5 percent.
Around 80 percent of global fixed broadband subscriptions were fibre (FTTH/B/C) and cable based.
China’s FTTH connections grow 26 percent in the last 12 months. This figure constituted 80 percent of global FTTH net adds in the period.
Elsewhere South Africa, Brazil, UK and France among others recorded significant FTTH quarterly growth rates. Italy, New Zealand and Greece were among the top VDSL growth markets.
82 percent of global FTTH net additions came from China. China achieved 6 percent quarterly growth in FTTH connections and 26 percent growth in 12 months.
FTTH growth was 19 percent in South Africa, 14 percent in Brazil, 10 percent in UK and 9 percent in France.
VDSL growth markets were Italy with 15 percent, New Zealand with 9 percent and Greece with 9 percent.
