The total number of IPTV subscribers worldwide now stands at 41,892,171, representing a growth of 7.3% (2.846 million net adds in the quarter) in the three months to end September and 36.7% growth in the last 12 months (11.256 million net adds).These figures were published by the Broadband Forum, in its Global Broadband and IPTV Industry Update.
“IPTV has grown solidly in the last 12 months. Perhaps more importantly the number of markets and operators offering IPTV is increasing as high speed broadband spreads around the world,” says John Bosnell, senior analyst at Point Topic, who carried out the research on behalf of the Broadband Forum.
“With TV being increasingly routed over IP networks, the broadband connection is becoming an increasingly significant channel for video delivery. As a tool for customer retention, as a prime mechanism for increasing ARPU, and as a means of providing a distinctive offering to the competition, the bundling of IPTV with a broadband subscription and voice is very attractive to ISPs.”
With 46% market share, Europe continues as the leading IPTV region. But China is fast catching up with France, the current world leader in terms of IPTV subscribers, and at current growth rates China will overtake France sometime during 2011. With this growth, Asia is rapidly closing the gap.
