Broadband uptake continues to increase with worldwide digital subscriber lines (DSL) having increased by 10.5% to 107.3 million in the first quarter of 2005. Over 37 million DSL lines were added since March 2004 last year, signalling a 54% increase for the 12 months ending 31 March 2005, according to the latest figures from broadband analysis company, Point Topic.
The new data reveals that just over 10.1 million lines were added in Q1 2005 alone, showing that DSL penetration is continuing to enjoy good momentum in 2005, following the 10.4 million lines added in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Traditional broadband adoption patterns are also shown to be changing, with growth in high penetration countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan slowing, compared to strong growth of 24% or more in emerging markets such as Turkey, Thailand and Poland.
The UK was shown to be the fastest growing major DSL country, adding over 20% to reach almost five million lines in the quarter, faster than world leader China, which grew by 15% and looks set to pass 20 million lines.
At the beginning of the year, Point Topic revealed that a record 50 million world broadband lines were added in 2004, bringing the total at the end of the year to 150.5 million, exceeding previous predictions from the broadband analysis company (see Global Broadband Penetration Exceeds 2004 Forecasts).
A massive 26.5 million lines were added in the second half of 2004 alone, representing the biggest half-year worldwide increase to date. Earlier estimates from Point Topic predicted total broadband lines for 2004 to reach 96.9 million (see Global Broadband Lines Close In On 100 Million In 2004).
According to figures published last month by eMarketer, the leader in broadband penetration continues to be South Korea, with its 73% penetration rate resulting from a very competitive broadband market and vigorous government support in the late 1990s. Hong Kong follows, with a penetration rate of almost 60%, while Taiwan has a rate of just over 50% (see US Broadband Penetration Drops Out Of Top Ten).
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