U.S. Broadband Penetration Up 300% Since 2002

Telecom News Editorials Reports Glossary

5:45 am on April 25, 2008 | Category: Telecom Services, Internet

Broadband penetration in the United States has grown by more than 300% in the past six years, according to a recent report by Scarborough Research.

Approximately 49% of American adults now have a high-speed internet connection in their households, up from just 12% in 2002. DSL represents the majority of this expansion, with DSL penetration increasing by 575% over the past six years. Cable modem services have also achieved significant growth, however, with subscriptions increasing by 188%.

Scarborough Research analysts say steady growth over the last few years has elevated broadband services to a “mainstream level.”

“There is obviously an increasing need for more high-speed internet connectivity as it enables fast and efficient delivery of rich media content,” said Gary Meo, the firm’s senior vice president of digital media research. “Consumers are clearly demanding more speed in order to upload, download, post and interact with content in a web 2.0 environment.”