Broadband beats recession

The worldwide broadband market stayed healthy in 2009, despite the continuing effects of the economic downturn, ABI Research has said.

Revenue from fixed broadband services rose to £110 billion last year, up from £97 million in 2008, according to the technology market research firm.

Adoption of IP telephony solutions could reflect this growth, with the rise in broadband uptake increasing potential access to web-based VoIP phones.

ABI Research found that the increasing popularity of other internet services, such as IPTV and online gaming, is driving demand for high-speed broadband, along with rising consumption of internet-enabled devices.

Khin Sandi Lynn, research associate at ABI Research, said that high-speed broadband allows operators to provide services like video on demand and interactive gaming, which generate more revenue.

ABI Research expects global fixed broadband service revenue to exceed £140 billion in 2014. Fibre broadband service revenue is rising quickly and is forecast to reach £16.3 billion in 2010.

VoIP solutions play a part in fuelling the clamour for broadband access, and broadband access makes it possible to use VoIP solutions, Allied Fiber told VoIP magazine INTERNET TELEPHONY recently.