Fibre Technology Influencing Broadband Growth in Asia-Pacific

Fiber technology is the primary driver of broadband adaption in Asia-Pacific due to its large population and high demand for digital services.

FREMONT, CA: The increased demand for fast and reliable internet connection in the Asia Pacific’s customer base to 596.5 million as of the end of the preceding year, which translates to a 50.7 per cent household penetration rate. With the representing of growth of 7.2 per cent every succeeding year, fixed broad brand service providers earned dollar 82.83 billion in subscription revenues. Average broadband revenue per user, although remained nearly consistent at an estimated dollar of  11.91 per month in 2022 compared with dollar 11.95 in 2021.

Key 2022 Fixed Broadband Market Developments in the Asia-Pacific Region:

India and the Philippines, the emerging market in the Asia Pacific region, reported strong growth in fixed broadband subscriptions and average revenue per user in 2022. In recent years, fibre technology led the fixed market with intensive infrastructure and rollouts across the region. Fibre to the home (FTTH), subscriptions grew from 21.4 per cent in 2012 to 84.1 per cent in 2022.

In the entire region, mainland China maintained its broadband market dominance with a 66 per cent share of subscribers and a 47 per cent share of revenues. In the underserved areas, there are opportunities for growth in fixed wireless access (FWA), satellite broadband and 5G technologies. Fixed broadband services in the region were moderately priced as of the end of last year, with an average affordability rate of 1.1 per cent  By 2027, the fixed broadband subscriptions in the region will rise to 726.0 million and broadband connections will reach dollar 101.36 billion over the same period.

Intensive rollouts of fibre infrastructure in the current years, through the initiatives of several national broadband plans, have come to accomplishment and have made FTTH the leading broadband technology across the region. Many emerging territories in south Asia, southeast Asia and mainland china have invested in fibre network development, which has resulted in passing more homes in 2022

The Fibre dividend of broadband subscribers increased from 21.4 per cent to 84.1 per cent in the last year, steered by expanding demand for reliable and high-speed internet in the region. At the end of 2022, fibre had become a leading broadband platform in the majority of Asia-Pacific merchandise. In domestic and pastoral areas where internet connection is deemed to be inaccessible, pricey, and inadequate, fixed wireless and satellite, considered niche broadband technologies, are particularly useful. As potential growth is evident, telcos are investing in fixed wireless access (FWA), satellite broadband, and 5G technologies.

By the end of the antedating time, FWA had 9.3 million subscribers, while satellite had 237,000 subscribers in the region. Over the next 5 years, the model indicated that fixed wireless and satellite will sustain their growth in the long term.

Asia-pacific is readily recovering from the pandemic plummet after shrinking in 2022, with the World Bank and other national government agencies reporting gross domestic product growth. Consumer spending has boosted in 2021 and 2022, due to factors such as the reopening of economic sectors, infrastructure investment, manufacturing and service sector’s performance and progressive easing of domestic and international travel restrictions. Out of the 15 markets analysed in 2022, Taiwan had the most affordable broadband services while the Philippines had the most expensive services. In general, fixed broadband services in Asia-Pacific are moderately priced.

Fibre technology dominates Asia-Pacfic broadband growth, suggesting that fibre      technology is the primary driver of broadband adoption and growth in the Asia-Pacific region. It has a large and growing population with high demand for digital services, making fibre technology an attractive investment for network providers.