It has been reported that the global growth in broadband connections has begun to run out of steam. The fall in take-up has been blamed on richer countries reaching saturation point with the technology that is on offer.
Broadband analysis group Point Topic released information showing that in Q3 2007, the number of global broadband connections grew by 4.72% to 328.8m, compared to a 5.16% increase in Q2 2007.
“The rich countries have got broadband – there are none of them left behind any more,” said Point Topic founder and publisher, Tim Johnson. “But other sources of growth such as China and India have gone through a rapid phase and penetrated the middle class, but aren’t nearly saturated in terms of the number of users.”
However, separate analysis group Strategy Analytics of Boston estimated that there would be more than 1 billion “discrete users” around the world by the end of 2008.
Ciaron Dunne from Broadband Genie commented on the broadband connection statistics: “It’s unavoidable that take-up statistics will begin to slow the longer broadband packages are on offer. After all, there are only so many that broadband ISPs can target. Rather than focussing on customers that have yet to subscribe to any broadband service we predict we will begin to see more emphasis being placed on how ISPs have managed to win the custom of households and businesses from competitor services.”
For those looking to switch broadband packages, Broadband Genie offers independent ISP advice at http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk/
Notes to editors
Broadband Genie allows users to compare broadband online, and is part of Genie Group.
Genie Group Ltd is a leading independent provider of internet comparison shopping services in the UK, and was set up in 2004 by Philip Wilkinson (co-founder of Kelkoo UK). Genie Group's unique selling point is 'the Genie', which makes personal recommendations to internet shoppers based on ground-breaking, intelligent technology. This gives Genie Group the ability to provide an enjoyable and satisfying internet shopping experience, and deliver an unmatched quality of sales leads to our affiliate merchants. Genie Group launched its flagship broadband comparison service Broadband Genie in January 2005.
More information can be found at http://www.broadbandgenie.co.uk . Please direct all media enquiries to Ciaron Dunne. Interviews with Philip Wilkinson can be arranged on request.
