US DSL Growth Starts To Lag Behind Europe
European countries are overtaking the USA in the race to roll out broadband DSL (digital subscriber line) to homes and businesses, according to data released this month by UK-based Point Topic.
DSL is a broadband system of high-speed communications which uses standard phone lines to deliver internet access at speeds ten times faster than a normal modem. Measured in terms of DSL lines per 100 population, the USA now ranks tenth in the world league table – down from fifth only a year ago.
While the US increased its number of DSL lines by 78%, from 2.5 million to 4.4 million, during 2001, other countries grew much faster, says Point Topic.
The Asia-Pacific countries are still out in front, with South Korea having nearly 11 DSL lines for every 100 people; European countries such as Germany, Finland, Sweden and Belgium are also showing very rapid growth. The US, with only 1.6 DSL lines per 100 people is failing to build on its early start in the technology.
| World Top Ten DSL Countries | ||||
| DSL lines per 100 population | ||||
| Country | Jan 2002 | Jan 2001 | Ranking 2002 | Ranking 2001 |
| South Korea | 10.95 | 4.03 | 1 | 1 |
| Hong Kong | 5.56 | 3.42 | 2 | 2 |
| Taiwan | 4.83 | 0.7 | 3 | 7 |
| Canada | 3.73 | 1.43 | 4 | 3 |
| Denmark | 2.85 | 0.94 | 5 | 4 |
| Belgium | 2.76 | 0.42 | 6 | 9 |
| Germany | 2.23 | 0.23 | 7 | 12 |
| Sweden | 2.18 | 0.45 | 8 | 8 |
| Finland | 1.66 | 0.16 | 9 | 13 |
| USA | 1.59 | 0.89 | 10 | 5 |
| Source: www.point-topic.com, April 2002 | ||||
