Western European residential broadband uptake has
exploded in the past two years, growing more than 80% in 2003 and
around 30% in the first half of 2004, said analyst
Forrester.
Forrester said that by 2010, European broadband penetration will
reach more than 40% of all households, which is equal to well over
70 million households equipped with broadband.
Forrester said that by 2010 the biggest adoption rates will be
in Holland and across Scandinavia, with around half of homes having
broadband. The countries with the largest economies, including the
UK, will see a take-up of between 35% and 45%.
The analyst said it expected the 30% growth rate for broadband
in the first half of 2004 to have been outstripped by much higher
growth in the second half of the year.
Lars Godell, analyst at Forrester, said, "Massive price cuts are
leading to a rapidly declining broadband premium. This, combined
with a continued strong supplier push, provides a major incentive
to the consumer to make the switch to broadband."
With its far superior geographic coverage digital subscriber
line (DSL) broadband is now trumping cable-based broadband take-up,
when previously cable was ahead.
It has also been reported that the ratification process for the
alternative fixed wireless broadband standard WiMAX has been
delayed by around six months, so DSL may remain the most popular
broadband option for some time.