ABI predicts fibre broadband subscriptions will reach 71m in 2011

The global total of households and businesses signed up to fibre optic broadband will reach 71 billion by the end of 2011, according to ABI Research.

A new report from the analyst claimed fibre broadband has become the "technology of choice" for many advanced online applications, such as healthcare, videoconferencing and internet protocol TV.

As consumers demand higher internet speeds, providers are increasingly looking to upgrade their networks and fibre is the fastest growing broadband platform, it stated.

For instance, the organisation pointed out BT has plans to roll out its fibre-to-the-cabinet service to 41 market towns by spring next year, bringing speeds of up to 40Mbps to these areas.

The telecoms giant aims to connect two-thirds of UK premises to fibre broadband by 2015.

Khin Sandy Lynn, research associate at ABI, said: "Network upgrades and offers by the operators of multimedia services over broadband networks will accelerate the growing number of subscribers adopting higher broadband speeds."