China's broadband growth expected to top US
(internetnews.com)
Updated: 2005-12-25 09:55

Meanwhile, worldwide DSL line growth is 28.8 percent compared to cable's 17.9 percent; the DSL share of world broadband lines is now up to 65.9 percent compared to 34.1 percent from cable and other broadband access methods such as wireless or satellite service.

In the U.S., DSL providers added more than 1.38 million lines in the third quarter of 2005, an 8.7 percent increase, and some 90,000 more than the cable industry, which tallied 5.5 percent growth.

According to the Point-Topic report, the Middle East and Africa are the fastest growing DSL regions on the planet, with installed lines growing 20 percent in the third quarter of 2005.

In Asia, China leads the DSL growth market on the continent with the addition of 3.7 million DSL lines. Officials said Southeast Asia's 12.9 percent growth is the primary result of China's DSL uptake.

The Asia-Pacific region is finally showing signs of maturity and subsequent decline in DSL line growth. Once the hotspot for DSL growth, countries such as Japan, Singapore and Taiwan appear to be maturing, while South Korea is flatlining (though it's the only country with more than 25 people per 100 in adoption).