Widening broadband’s reach

Many broadband users may find the wind has gone out of their sails, especially if they live in rural areas. What are the solutions?

Many broadband users may find the wind has gone out of their sails, especially if they live in rural areas. What are the solutions?Broadband has grown enormously over the past three years. The OECD’s latest monitoring report found that the number of broadband subscribers in OECD countries increased from 83 million at the end of 2003 to 221 million as of June 2007, a 187% increase, with some countries reaching 100% coverage. Prices also fell. Between 2005 and 2006 the price of a typical DSL connection fell by 19% and cable connections by 16%. The “last mile”, which in telecoms jargon means the direct connection between a home and a telephone exchange point, looks as if it will finally be covered, even if it is an uphill climb.The main beneficiaries of broadband live in towns and cities, and in rural areas of small developed countries with high population densities. Korea, Japan and the Netherlands rank high on the list of broadband users. In densely populated areas, one exchange point serves a large number of subscribers.To read this article in the OECD Observer in full, see www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/2663.

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