The number of DSL lines worldwide topped 55 million in the third quarter of this year, an 80% increase over the same time last year, according to the latest data from Point Topic. This puts the sector well on course to surpass 60 million installed lines by the end of 2003.
Point Topic says that the main reason for the particularly strong growth in the quarter is the emergence of China as the world’s fastest growing DSL market. The Asia Pacific share of subscriptions in now over 50% of all DSL lines at 28 million.
DSL, which stands for digital subscriber line, allows high-speed, broadband access to the internet. A recent Forrester Research analysis of the US broadband internet sector found that DSL operators are benefitting from a shift in consumer focus from the speed of services to their cost – DSL is typically cheaper (if slower) than cable (see Price Takes Over From Speed In Battle For Broadband Customers).
The Americas account for 11.7 million lines and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) for 15.5 million. This further increases EMEA’s lead over the Americas. Growth in the UK has maintained good momentum, with a rise of more than 30% to 1.4 million lines by the end of September.
Japan remained the leading country in terms of total number of lines, registering over 9.2 million. The US maintained its position in second place with 8.2 million, but is closely trailed by China which has overtaken South Korea to third place with 7.8 million lines. China is likely to have the world’s biggest DSL installed base by early 2004, says the report.
