USA - Broadband - Cable, DSL, Wireless, FTTH and BPL

Synopsis

After a surprisingly slow start, broadband Internet access is finally taking off in the US amidst fierce competition between the various technologies and services. The market is dominated by cable modems, with DSL in second place – but the gap is closing. The third most common broadband access technology is fixed wireless broadband. Broadband over powerlines is starting to emerge, while FTTH has been hindered by cost and regulatory concerns. The take-up of broadband access is being driven by lower prices and the introduction of new applications and services. Over one in five US households subscribed to broadband by mid-2004.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Broadband access technologies
  • 2.1 Overview
  • 2.2 Regulatory issues
    • 2.2.1 Tauzin-Dingell Broadband Bill (defeated)
    • 2.2.2 Breaux and Nickles Broadband Bill
    • 2.2.3 Hollings Broadband Bill
  • 2.3 Cable modems
    • 2.3.1 Market drivers
  • 2.4 Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
    • 2.4.1 Voice over Digital Subscriber Line (VoDSL)
    • 2.4.2 Very high-speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL)
  • 2.5 Wireless broadband
    • 2.5.1 Market overview
    • 2.5.2 WiMAX
  • 2.6 Internet via satellite
    • 2.6.1 StarBand
    • 2.6.2 DirecWay
    • 2.6.3 Boeing in-flight services
  • 2.7 FTTx (fibre to the building/home/premises/curb/office, etc)
    • 2.7.1 Utah’s Public-Private FTTP Initiative
  • 2.8 Broadband over Power Line (BPL)
    • 2.8.1 BPL trials by multi-utilities
• 3. Related reports

• Table 1 – Cable modem subscribers – 1998 - 2004
• Table 2 – Subscriber base of top cable modem providers – 2002 - 2004
• Table 3 – Broadband cable subscriber forecasts per provider – 2001 - 2007
• Table 4 – DSL subscribers by major carrier – 2002 - 2004
• Table 5 – Projected FWA subscribers – 2002 - 2007

• Exhibit 1 – Fios, Verizon’s FTTH service