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.
Try to imagine this scenario, that General Motors and Ford were given exclusive franchises to build America's interstate highway system, and also all the highways that connect local communities. Now imagine that, based upon a financial crisis, these troubled companies decided to convert all "their" local arteries into toll-roads -- they then use incremental toll fees to severely limit all travel to and from small businesses. Why? This handicapping process reduced the need to invest in building better new roads, or repairing the dilapidated ones. But, wouldn't that short-sighted decision have a detrimental impact on the overall national economy? It's a moot point -- pure fantasy -- you say. The U.S. political leadership would never knowingly risk the nation's social and economic future on the financial viability of a restrictive duopoly. Or, would they? The 21st century Global Networked Economy travels across essential broadband infrastructure. The forced intro...