Broadband Access: Technologies, Drivers, and Issues

Economic research shows that public infrastructure investment is a powerful driver of business productivity, investment, and economic growth. This paper discusses the drivers for broadband and analyses the various broadband access technologies and their respective market shares. Various policy and regulatory issues are also discussed. Broadband access, along with its extended value-added services and applications, has now become the most important growth driver for fixed operators. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is the leading access technology due to already available copper infrastructure and WiMAX is emerging new technology, especially in Asia/Pacific (APAC) region, due to its speedy and low cost infrastructure deployment characteristics. Countries with high penetration of broadband users such as South Korea, Japan and Canada have all implemented conscious policies for the growth of broadband in their countries. Governments in APAC region, especially the developing countries, will have to play the leading role for broadband due to its importance in economic and social growth.