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The update for the global FTTH-ranking of the three FTTH-Councils was presented at the FTTH-Council APAC-Conference in Kuala Lumpur.

South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan now occupy the top four positions in the ranking, and the Asian region now accounts for more than 27 million of the world’s estimated 32 million fiber to the home connections. Four Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark) and Slovenia occupied the fifth through ninth positions in the ranking, with market penetration ranging from 7.5 percent to 3.2 percent.  The Netherlands and Italy were in the 12th and 13th positions, each with market penetration of 1.4 percent.  In all, European countries reported 1.4 million FTTH connections. The United States is third among the world’s economies in the total number of FTTH households at 3.3 million, and is in 10th position in the global ranking with 2.9 percent market penetration. 

Click here to download the press release.

As the powerbase within BT shifts from outgoing Chairman Sir Christopher Bland toward incoming CEO Ian Livingstone, the winds of change are promising to come with it.  Both have been energetically outlining BT’s proposed new plans for a £1.5 billion investment to deliver FTTH and FTTx to around 1 million UK homes by 2013.  The move follows similar commitments in the last year from incumbent operators in the other major Western European countries.

According to BT statements, the exact split of the two technologies (FTTH vs Fibre-to-the-Curb/Cabinet and other deep fibre approaches) will end up being dictated by “the interest shown by government and regional and local authorities”.  Moreover, the entire plan is contingent upon a successful outcome from forthcoming discussions with UK telco regulator Ofcom to bring about a “supportive and enduring regulatory environment”.

While some obstacles to the plan reaching fruition may yet remain, BT clearly understands the validity of fibre within its ongoing investment strategy. 

FTTH Council Europe President Joeri Van Bogaert commented, “We warmly welcome this latest decision for fibre from BT; it is one more incumbent that has committed to implementing next generation broadband in Europe, and is certainly helping to make our Council’s mission of over 12 million European homes being connected by 2012, a near reality.

BT looks to provide 10 million UK homes with ultra-fast broadband but there will also be 1 million lucky customers that will have fibre connected directly to their home.  We definitely see this decision for investing in 1 million homes to receive fibre to the Home, as the most positive development and a step in the right direction for the UK’s future.”

Read more at www.telecommagazine.com or at www.ft.com

View the FTTH Council's new video on the coming data deluge and the need for access speed to the Internet ... the speed available only through FTTH networks.

Click here to view the video

Swisscom has announced a €5 billion investment in an FTTH rollout.   The Swiss incumbent’s deployment strategy involves embarking on a novel infrastructure approach which serves to intercept anti-competitive regulatory objections, namely by laying four parallel fibre strands so that up to three competitors can be present.  Swisscom CEO Carsten Schloter – speaking in an interview with Weltwoche – outlined his company’s wide-ranging plans which are in response to increasing competition from cable and utility companies; many of whom Schloter claims are extremely interested in participating in the project.

Read more at www.weltwoche.ch in German or at www.fiberevolution.com in English.