Study shows FTTH subscriptions rose 30% in Q3 2011

Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband services saw a significant rise in European customer numbers during the third quarter of 2011, according to the Broadband Forum.

Research from the organisation revealed the fibre optic broadband technology added just under 750,000 subscribers across Europe during the three-month period, representing an increase of 30.6 per cent year on year.

Despite this, Point Topic chief executive Oliver Johnson said the ultra-fast broadband technology is unlikely to become the industry standard in the near future due to the "prohibitive" cost of deployment.

Hybrid services such as fibre-to-the-cabinet are set to dominate the market over the next five years, he claimed.

Mr Johnson explained hybrid technology provides "a significant increase in bandwidth and an efficient use of existing infrastructure and allows the welcome continued amortisation of costs".

Last month, the Broadband Forum announced more new broadband subscribers were added in the third quarter of 2011 than at any time since early 2009.