Broadband penetration numbers in OECD states | ||||||
Penetration, number of lines per 100 | ||||||
Rank | Country | DSL | Cable | Other | Total | Total Subscribers |
1 | Korea | 13.9 | 8.9 | 2.7 | 25.5 | 12 260 969 |
2 | Netherlands | 13.6 | 8.9 | 0 | 22.5 | 3 642 315 |
3 | Denmark | 13.2 | 6.1 | 2.4 | 21.8 | 1 176 637 |
4 | Iceland | 21.0 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 21.7 | 63 553 |
5 | Switzerland | 12.7 | 7.2 | 0.4 | 20.3 | 1 515 446 |
6 | Canada | 9.4 | 9.7 | 0.1 | 19.2 | 6 142 662 |
7 | Finland | 16.3 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 18.7 | 978 600 |
8 | Belgium | 11.0 | 7.3 | 0 | 18.2 | 1 899 652 |
9 | Norway | 14.8 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 18.2 | 836 060 |
10 | Sweden | 11.3 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 16.5 | 1 482 843 |
11 | Japan | 11.0 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 16.4 | 20 953 090 |
12 | United States | 5.5 | 8.0 | 1.1 | 14.5 | 42 645 815 |
13 | United Kingdom | 9.7 | 3.8 | 0 | 13.5 | 8 095 000 |
14 | France | 11.9 | 0.8 | 0 | 12.8 | 7 935 900 |
15 | Austria | 7.0 | 5.4 | 0.1 | 12.5 | 1 025 036 |
16 | Luxembourg | 10.4 | 1.3 | 0 | 11.8 | 52 920 |
17 | Australia | 8.5 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 10.9 | 2 183 300 |
18 | Germany | 9.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 10.2 | 8 439 732 |
19 | Italy | 9.4 | 0 | 0.6 | 10.0 | 5 783 319 |
20 | Portugal | 5.1 | 4.7 | 0 | 9.9 | 1031 491 |
21 | Spain | 7.0 | 2.2 | 0.1 | 9.3 | 3 949 234 |
22 | New Zealand | 6.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 6.9 | 283 798 |
23 | Hungary | 2.9 | 1.6 | 0.1 | 4.6 | 469 186 |
24 | Ireland | 3.5 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 4.3 | 175 500 |
25 | Poland | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 3.3 | 1 250 000 |
26 | Czech Republic | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0 | 2.8 | 284 200 |
27 | Slovak Republic | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 86 958 |
28 | Turkey | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 1.2 | 862 843 |
29 | Mexico | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0 | 1.0 | 1 051 854 |
30 | Greece | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.8 | 93 287 |
OECD Total | 7.2 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 11.8 | 136 651 000 | |
Source: OECD |
preneurial spirit. Instead they are using over-
regulation of the industry to suppress competition. Divestiture, Telecom Act of 1996, FCC, state utilities commissions, and even the Supreme Court (Brand X Decision) have been the tools used to prevent the growth of broadband services and the creation of new industries in this country. Let’s face it. Our country is now a service based economy, and we need to develop new service based industries to maintain our global leadership. We could continue on this path to protect access to the customer and what rides over the networks to continue down the slippery slope or realize that there is a whole new economy out there to provide content and services.
Some of this regulation made sense for TDM-based networks, but the economics change with IP. Unfortunately telcos and MSO in the U.S are still more focused on the pipes than the services that they deliver. They know that if they can control what rides over the network then they can distribute the content which is where the real revenue and profit lies. What they are forgetting is that consumers have more choices for access these days. Companies that lock down their network are going to see customers go to networks that allow their customers choice of services. In a couple of years WiMAX will enable multiple new carriers to provide access to consumers.
Carriers should focus more on developing and packaging a superior service portfolio to consumers and less on keeping others out of their networks. The ROI would be greater than having a cadre of lawyers and lobbyists at the FCC and state utility commissions. Companies like Vonage decided that they can focus on providing consumers a better voice service and forgo worrying about the pipe. In a few short years they have attracted over one million customers worldwide. Consumers like simplicity. Vonage offers them simplicity. They have two service packages with all of the features that 90% of the consumers use. Carriers should take a cue from Vonage and act as service providers and distributors instead of bandwidth providers. The revenue is three times greater for content than providing bandwidth. This figure will only increase over time. Customers will stick with a carrier that provides a better user experience. What constitutes a better user experience? One that creates simple bundled package with video, voice, and mobility services very reliably. Providing the transport is simply a service differentiator. Carriers can still charge consumers for bandwidth transport and let subscribers purchase services from anyone ala carte, but many will chose to stick with the provider that delivers the superior user experience. An added benefit to carriers is that they may be able to offer these packages worldwide instead if just in their current operating territory; thereby, greatly increasing their addressable market.
Telcos and MSO should think more like distributors than network providers. The auto industry uses a distributor network to deliver its products. Usually the car dealerships make more profit per customer than the manufacturer. Telcos and MSO have the same opportunity before them. They know their customers, and they should be able to offer services packages better than anyone else. Do not worry about the pipe. Concentrate on delivering the services over the pipe. The cost per bit of transport will continue on its decline enabling less capital expenditure on building the network. The network should be seen as a value added part of the service offered. Consumers will still have to purchase access to the Internet, but the service they buy can be cheaper and higher quality if bundled from the carrier. Good marketing will demonstrate a better user experience. Many consumers will resonate with that message.
New service providers will still pop-up that will capture revenue of the carriers’ customers, but the carrier can turn around and provide the same or better service. Consumers then have the choice where to purchase that service. Many will come back to the carrier. Everybody wins. The secondary effect is more consumers will want to purchase more services and consume more bandwidth. This spiraling effect will drive the broadband penetration to customers. By focusing on services, carriers grow stronger and broadband penetration will increase.
Incumbent carriers and MSO along with the rest of the industry should lobby Congress to rewrite telecom legislation that will free the industry of its regulatory and statutory shackles. A minimalist position is best. Just how confused Justice Clarance Thomas was on the Brand X opinion. State utility commissions should be eliminated because this is a global industry. With the slate clean to focus on quality content and innovative services, the telecom industry in this country will flourish and we will see our prominence in broadband rankings increase as well.
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