Fixed communications service revenue in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region is set to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.7 percent to reach $406.2 billion in 2026, forecasts GlobalData.
The growth in the APAC fixed broadband market will be led by fiber broadband. Fiber-optic access lines will account for 61 percent of the total fixed access lines in the developed APAC region by 2026 while its share in the total fixed lines in the emerging APAC markets will be at a relatively higher 80 percent.
Rising demand for high-speed internet services and competitively priced fiber broadband plans from operators with benefits like unlimited internet and access to major SVoD platforms will drive fiber broadband service adoption in the region.
In India, BSNL’s Superstar Premium Plans include unlimited 150Mbps broadband service for INR999 (US$13) per month with access to OTT platforms like Disney + Hot Star Premium, SonyLIV Premium and VooT Select.
China leads the APAC fixed broadband services market, with 98 percent of its broadband subscriptions on fiber optic lines by the end of 2021. China government’s Dual Gigabit Network Coordinated Development Action Plan (2021-2023) aims to expand fiber-optic networks to over 200 million households by the end of 2023.
Similarly, FTTH/B will account for almost 100 percent of the broadband lines in Singapore by 2026. This is backed by the aggressive approach and investments by the NetLink NBN Trust in fiber broadband network expansions.
Voice telephony penetration of the population in APAC will remain at around 10 percent throughout the forecast period.
“Despite an increase in the overall voice telephony access lines in the region, fixed voice revenue will decline over the forecast period on account of increasing mobile voice and OTT voice usage,” Kantipudi Pradeepthi, Telecom Analyst at GlobalData, said.