EU-DIGEST

Europe seeing strong broadband growth - by Ian Williams

Broadband markets across Europe are seeing continued growth in all areas, according to recent research by Frost & Sullivan. The Broadband Market in Europe report attributed the growth to deregulatory initiatives across the region and the ongoing shift towards integrated services such as triple- or quad-play. Frost & Sullivan said that another major growth factor is growing demand for highly customised broadband-based services. Customers appear willing to pay extra for high-quality broadband services such as video-on-demand and other multimedia content. "As we begin to embrace the era of digital lifestyles, providers have begun to focus on providing interactive communication services," said Julia Martusewicz-Kulinska, a research analyst at Frost & Sullivan.

Labels: Broadband, EU, Internet

Broadband and Mobile Internet Boom in Europe

The number of Europeans with high-speed broadband connections rose sharply last year. More than 50,000 European homes and offices acquired a high-speed connection every day in 2007. In addition to the increase in broadband usage, ever more people are also using the Internet when they're out and about, according to the European Commission. The adoption of mobile 3G services doubled in 2007, to 88 million users, approximately one-fifth of the European Union's population.he Commission attributed the increase in broadband access, in part, to the increase in competition in the telecommunications market, which has cut prices to new lows.

Labels: Broadband, EU, Internet

Denmark is EU’s top country in broadband Internet service, Bulgaria and Romania come last

Denmark is the EU’s top country in terms of usage of broadband internet, Bulgaria and Romania come last in the chart, DPA reported, citing a report of the EU. At least 37.2% of the Danish population use broadband Internet, which makes Denmark the world’s first country in that sense, second comes the Netherlands. Bulgaria and Romania that acceded the EU in 2007 are last in the chart respectively with 5.7% and 6.6%. According to the report of the European Commission the richest EU member states are the greatest consumers of broadband Internet. However, Spain and Italy have a rate that is below the EU’s average – 18.2%, whereas Estonia’s broadband Internet service rate is 20%, much above Germany’s rate.

Labels: Broadband, Denmark, EU

Denmark, Netherlands Lead OECD in Broadband Penetration

Over the past year, said the OECD in a release, the number of broadband subscribers in the OECD increased 26 percent from 157 million in December 2005 to 197 million in December 2006. This growth increased broadband penetration rates in the OECD from 13.5 in December 2005 to 16.9 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants one year later.

The strongest per-capita subscriber growth over the year comes from Denmark and the Netherlands.

Labels: Broadband