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Data compiled by research firm Point Topic reveals that in Q1 2008 fibre optic broadband for the first time added more subscribers than cable.
While there were 2.5 million cable broadband subscribers added worldwide in the first 3 months of 2008, fibre grew by over 4.2 million users.
“It’s a significant milestone for fibre optic broadband, where it is available consumers will take fibre over other broadband technologies,” says Oliver Johnson, Point Topic CEO.
There have been doubts expressed that consumers will find additional speed necessary or attractive but the evidence is that users value bandwidth. A significant factor in their choice of technology is price.
“If you look at the cost per megabit then DSL comes in at around $20 per megabit per month taking global averages. Cable does better at roughly $12 but they are both completely eclipsed by fibre where costs can get as low as 50 cents per megabit per month,” continues Johnson.
There are sizeable variations from country to country, region to region and operator to operator but a rule of thumb is that DSL can cost the consumer 15 times as much as fibre to get a megabit of bandwidth and cable is 7 times as expensive.
While there were 2.5 million cable broadband subscribers added worldwide in the first 3 months of 2008, fibre grew by over 4.2 million users.
“It’s a significant milestone for fibre optic broadband, where it is available consumers will take fibre over other broadband technologies,” says Oliver Johnson, Point Topic CEO.
There have been doubts expressed that consumers will find additional speed necessary or attractive but the evidence is that users value bandwidth. A significant factor in their choice of technology is price.
“If you look at the cost per megabit then DSL comes in at around $20 per megabit per month taking global averages. Cable does better at roughly $12 but they are both completely eclipsed by fibre where costs can get as low as 50 cents per megabit per month,” continues Johnson.
There are sizeable variations from country to country, region to region and operator to operator but a rule of thumb is that DSL can cost the consumer 15 times as much as fibre to get a megabit of bandwidth and cable is 7 times as expensive.
