Broadband users are increasingly interested in combining the technologies within their homes and opting for new ‘triple play’ service providers offering voice, video and data products from a single access point.
A new survey by InsightExpress found that 82% of broadband customers in America are interested in receiving the all-in-one services, a statistic which is likely to increase competition, not just between rival internet service providers (ISPs), but between ISPs, traditional broadcasters and cable providers.
Market Analyst eMarketer currently estimates an expenditure of between $100 and $200 per month on voice, video and data services by American households, and while the majority of these services are provided by separate operators, the prospect of combined revenues for a single service provider is a tempting proposition for both the cable and telecoms industries.
According to InsightExpress, triple play services are both in demand, and expected to be an improvement by American consumers. When asked whether customer service would change if they received triple play services from a single source, 37% of those questioned believed that their experiences would “improve” or “improve significantly”, while just 17.5% thought their service would deteriorate.
Consumers also believe that services from a single provider would be “more convenient overall,” with just one bill providing an incentive in terms of ease of use.
However, InsightExpress’ research also shows consumers expecting problems with any new service. Both cable and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) customers anticipated problems in installing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). In addition, more than two-thirds of those questioned were unsure how the new services would be installed.
Recent forecasts from JupiterResearch predicted the number of online households in the US to rise rapidly before the end of the decade, reaching 88 million by the end of 2010, up from 75 million at the end of 2004. Residential broadband adoption is expected to grow much faster, increasing to more than three-quarters of the online population by 2010, up from just under half of connected households in 2004 (see US Online Households Forecast To Hit 88 Million By End Of 2010).
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