According to a Telecompaper research study, at the end of Q1 2005 there were 158 million broadband subscribers with tens of thousands more signing-up for service everyday. �World Broadband Q1-2005� shows that the Asia-Pacific is the world�s biggest broadband arena with more than 61 million subscribers and a 39 percent share of the global broadband market. For the first time, Europe has overtaken the Americas to become the world�s second-largest broadband market, with 47.95 million subscribers and a 30 percent market share. The Americas have dropped back to third place with 47.53 million subscribers. In fourth place is Middle east/Africa with just 1.59 million subscribers. Globally, Q1 2005 saw 13 million new subscribers signing-on for broadband services, six million of them from Europe. However, the Middle East/Africa market is actually the fastest growing sector, putting on 17.7 percent in the quarter. Regarding individual countries, South Korea, with 11.85 million subscribers (equating to 23.92 connections per 100 inhabitants) is still the number one market. Second is the Netherlands with 21.13 connections, and Third is Denmark with 21.12 connections.
As an independent advisory consultant, I've observed the rapid evolution of connectivity solutions in manufacturing. The recent survey by ABI Research highlights a significant shift towards private cellular networks, an emerging era in industrial digitization. The manufacturing sector is already undergoing a transformation, driven by the need for enhanced operational efficiency, reliability, and scalability. Wireless technology is an enabler. Private cellular networks, particularly 4G and 5G technologies, are at the forefront of this change, reshaping the connectivity landscape in factories and production facilities. Private Cellular Network Market Development The latest worldwide ABI Research survey provides compelling evidence of this trend. The study, which encompassed manufacturer decision-makers reveals some striking stats: 44 percent are already in the early stages of deploying 4G private networks. An impressive 75 percent of manufacturers are considering 5G implementation. 4...