Is the U.S. broadband market becoming saturated? Is penetration and acceptance finally beginning to slow down as it reaches the majority of the population? The answers are "no" and "yes." According to research firm Point Topic, the U.S. market still ranks 25th worldwide in broadband penetration with a figure of just over 50 percent.
The 50 percent line, as many industry observers would note, is also the point at which adoption would begin to slow after some recent years of heady growth. Broadband subscription numbers stated in recent earnings reports by telcos and cable TV firms suggest that slower growth may now be a reality. Still, outside factors like the housing market slowdown may be obscuring the broadband picture. Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. said in a report out this week that subscriber growth actually may return next quarter. We'll see.
For more details on the SCB & Co. report:
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