Steady growth in private broadband access

The annual growth rate in the number of fixed broadband subscriptions was 4 per cent in the 1st quarter of 2010. The average broadband capacity for private subscriptions increased to 6.1 Mbit/s.

The number of broadband subscriptions with fixed access on the Norwegian mainland was 1,690,000 at the end of the 1st quarter of 2010; an increase of 68,000 subscriptions in the last 12 months. Compared to the previous quarter, there is an increase of 19,000 subscriptions. The whole increase in the last quarter relates to private subscriptions. At the end of the 1st quarter, Norway had 1 536 000 fixed private broadband subscriptions and 154 000 business subscriptions.

Increased growth of high capacity private access

Private broadband subscriptions with a capacity of more than 8 Mbit/s total 24 per cent; an increase from 23 per cent in the previous quarter. Only 12 per cent of business broadband subscriptions have this capacity; an increase from 11 per cent in the previous quarter.

The average capacity has increased to 6.1 from 5.9 Mbit/s in the previous quarter. At the same time, the median value has increased slightly, to 3.7 Mbit/s compared to 3.6 in the previous quarter.

Steady growth in fixed broadband subscriptions related to households

The broadband penetration rate in private households remains the same as in the previous quarter at 71 per cent due to new household figures. Compared to last year there is an increase from 68 per cent. The figure for private broadband subscriptions per 100 households varies between 77 per cent in the county of Akershus and 60 per cent in the county of Finnmark.

The most central municipalities have the highest number of broadband subscriptions relative to the number of households. While the number of broadband subscriptions relative to the number of households is 73 per cent, the corresponding figure for less central municipalities is 62 per cent.

In some municipalities the number of leisure time cottages is high compared to the number of ordinary households. As the number of fixed broadband subscriptions to these cottages increase the figure for subscriptions relative to the number of households may become extremely high. The municipality Bykle is the only one to break the threshold of more than 1 subscription per household.

Source: Statistics Norway