Service providers worldwide added over 8.3 million new DSL subscriber in Q3 bringing the installed DSL base to over 55 million lines, according to the latest figures from The DSL Forum and Point Topic. Over 25 million new DSL subscribers have been added globally in the past 12 months, exceeding industry projections by three million subscribers. At the current rate, the installed DSL base is likely to pass 62 million by year's end.
"These figures demonstrate the sustained growth in global DSL uptake all over the world as various countries move towards a mass market status of 20% of phone lines delivering the benefits of DSL broadband to homes and businesses worldwide," said Tom Starr, president of the DSL Forum.
Some highlights of the report:
- Japan continues to lead the world with most installed DSL lines at 9.2 million, followed by the U.S. at 8.2 million and China at 7.8 million.
- China added 2.2 million DSL subscribers in Q3, more than double the next fastest growing market, Japan at 971,400 and the U.S. at 667,700. At this rate, China is expected to overtake Japan soon as the country with the most DSL subscribers.
- Eleven countries had more than a million subscribers at the end of September 2003, five of them in Europe.
- In terms of market penetration, South Korea remains the leading country in the world with more than 30% of the country's telephone lines now proving the benefits of broadband DSL. More than 20% of South Korea's subscribers have now upgraded to VDSL services, demonstrating demand for even greater bandwidth services as the market matures.
- Taiwan, Iceland and Hong Kong, all relatively small markets, are each likely to achieve 20% phone line penetration by the end of 2003.
- Latin America now has 1.393 million DSL subscribers - dominated by Brazil, which has 60% of the region's DSL subscribers at 837,700. However, DSL penetration in Brazil is at 2.16%, ranking it 40th in the world.
