500 Million Broadband Users Expected By 2007

The Broadband Worldwide 2004: Subscriber Update report says that for every one of the 250 million expected broadband subscriptions (see Global Broadband Subscribers To Hit 250 Million By 2007) there will be two or more users which takes total user access to nearly 500 million. At home one broadband subscription will be used by the entire family, as well as people having access at work, school and other locations.

Asia Pacific

Asia-Pacific will to continue to dominate global broadband uptake with nearly 57 million households expected to have access by the end of this year. eMarketer forecasts that by 2007, this will almost double and surpass the 100 millionth subscriber landmark.

Currently, South Korea leads the world by having 22.7 broadband subscriber’s for every 100 inhabitants but by 2007, eMarketer foresee’s Japan overtaking with 28.1 subscribers per 100 inhabitants.

Europe and North America

By the end of 2004, Western Europe will have 28.7 million broadband household’s says eMarketer, falling behind North America with 37.7 million expected.

Worldwide, Denmark ranked in fifth place having 13 broadband subscribers per 100 inhabitants. Surprisingly, by 2007, Denmark is expected to rank in second place when subscriber figures rise to 25.4.

By early 2004, a significant broadband milestone was reached when the 100 millionth subscriber connected. In 1996, only 100,000 people had broadband so in just over eight years, broadband has moved from early-adopter stage to the mainstream says eMarketer (see Broadband Lines Reach 100 Million Worldwide In 2003).