Point Topic predicts major hybrid fibre broadband growth

Point Topic has predicted "hybrid" fibre optic broadband technologies will see significant subscriber growth in the coming years.

According to figures prepared by the telecoms analyst for the Broadband Forum, the number of homes and businesses signed up to fibre-to-the-cabinet broadband and other hybrid services rose by more than eight per cent during the third quarter of 2011.

In contrast, cable broadband connections increased by 2.2 per cent, while two per cent growth was recorded for DSL technologies.

Oliver Johnson, chief executive of Point Topic, claimed hybrid fibre broadband services will continue to perform strongly for the next few years.

"Consumers are showing signs of being ready to pay for faster connections and the hybrid solution set is a cost-effective way of getting relatively high speeds to them," he commented.

Despite Point Topic's positive predictions, only four per cent of homes in the UK have so far chosen to sign up for super-fast broadband packages despite the technology being available to 59 per cent of households, according to Ofcom.