BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
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MARCH/APRIL 2014 | www.broadbandcommunities.com | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | 23 time on high-bandwidth applications, such as streaming video and music, communicating via video and telecommuting. In addition, FTTH/FTTB users were much more receptive to future applications than DSL users were. DSL users did not necessarily forgo bandwidth-intensive applications because they were uninterested in these applications; rather, they may not have had enough bandwidth to use them. Only 33 percent of DSL users said they planned to upgrade their broadband speeds over the next 12 months – but a majority of those who were not planning to upgrade either had no better service available (54 percent) or were locked into contracts (13 percent). Of those DSL users who did plan to upgrade, two-thirds said they would choose fber broadband. By contrast, 44 percent of FTTH/FTTB users said they intended to upgrade to a faster solution during the next 12 months. BROADBAND AND LOCATION DECISIONS When asked how important the quality of broadband would be in choosing a new home, FTTH/FTTB subscribers listed that criterion second after home price. DSL users, on the other hand, listed quality of broadband last. Tis does indicate a fundamentally diferent mindset between the two groups. One possibility is that FTTH/FTTB subscribers were more aware than DSL subscribers of the diference between fber broadband and DSL. It may be that, once they have experienced high-quality broadband, users never want to switch back. Fiber subscribers (blue) and DSL subscribers (red) both valued speed and relevance; fber subscribers were more satisfed with both qualities. Fiber subscribers showed more interest than DSL subscribers in purchasing additional broadband services. In conclusion, the survey shows that, in a mature market such as Sweden, FTTH/FTTB and DSL subscribers both perceive fber broadband to be a superior product that delivers a signifcantly better quality of experience than DSL. FTTH/FTTB users value upload speeds and latency as well as download speeds; DSL users are frustrated with their existing solutions and would switch to FTTH/ FTTB if they could. FTTH/FTTB users spend more time on the Internet than DSL users and use more advanced applications. Fiber users are also ready to upgrade to still faster speeds, and their usage maturity seems to create more appetite for innovative solutions that service providers could market to them, creating a potential for tomorrow's revenues. v Benoît Felten is the CEO and research director of Difraction Analysis, a telecommunications consulting frm based in Paris. You can reach him at benoit@ difractionanalysis.com. BBC_Mar14.indd 23 3/14/14 2:46 PM