U.S. FTTH Broadband Penetration Doubles in One Year

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

5:55 am on October 11, 2007 | Category: Business, Telecom Services, Internet

The number of U.S. households connected to fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks has more than doubled in the past year, to reach 2.14 million in September, according to the most recent data from Render Vanderslice and Associates.

Fiber-optic broadband networks now pass a total of 9.55 million American homes, up 56% from September 2006. Verizon Communications is by far the nation’s top fiber-optic provider, accounting for about two thirds of all homes passed.

“While overall FTTH take rates had been suppressed while Verizon was building its FTTH infrastructure faster than it was adding customers, the company is connecting customers more quickly now,” said the FTTH Council, which published RVA’s research, in conjunction with the Telecommunications Industry Association.

Verizon and other fiber-optic broadband carriers have much work left to do, however, with U.S. fiber-optic market penetration of just 1%. This compares to 21% penetration in Hong Kong, 20% in South Korea, and 16% in Japan.