Global IPTV subscriber numbers have more than doubled for the second year running with an increase of 53% in the 12 months to 31 March 2008, according to a new report from The Broadband Forum.
It also found that worldwide broadband subscribers have reached over 370 million with DSL remaining the most dominant access technology with 65% of the world’s subscribers.
Nearly 15.5 million people are now subscribed to an IPTV service, with Europe having over 8.4 million subscribers, making it the strongest market in terms of growth and total subscriber numbers.
| Regional IPTV subscriber growth worldwide, first quarter 2007 and 2008 |
| Region |
Q1 2007 |
Q1 2008 |
| Europe |
3,875,266 |
8,425,370 |
| Asia-Pacific |
1,129,355 |
2,619,035 |
| North America |
850,601 |
2,258,601 |
| South and East Asia |
1,353,000 |
2,086,000 |
| Latin America |
2,300 |
11,183 |
| Middle East and Africa |
10,000 |
10,000 |
| Total |
7,220,522 |
15,410,189 |
| Source: Data provided for the Broadband Forum by Point Topic |
“IPTV operators around the world have shown that systems are scalable and can handle rapid growth in subscriber numbers,” said Point Topic Senior Analyst John Bosnell. “However, developing and agreeing standards will help these operators deliver IPTV more simply and effectively over a variety of access technologies and help to drive higher up take in other markets.”
MRG published a forecast in May predicting that IPTV subscribers will grow from 24.4 million in 2008 to 92.8 million in 2012, with IPTV service revenue totaling $37.1 billion by 2012 (see IPTV Subscribers Forecast To Reach 92.8m In 2012).
A report from Analysys Mason, meanwhile, said that the increasing deployment of IPTV services will see the pay-TV market in Western Europe enjoy a modest rate of growth in the number of households subscribing to pay-TV services (see IPTV To Drive Take-Up Of Pay TV In Western Europe).
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