Summary
Since 2010 and Google’s announced fibre Gigabit network rollouts in the US, we have been seeing more and more Gigabit plans being introduced in most corners of the globe.
After a brief look at the maturity of the technologies being used to supply UFB access, the report provides a detailed inventory of Gigabit ultrafast network rollouts, with particular focus on the US market and initiatives in Asia-Pacific.
We explore how government authorities are latching on to the idea of a “Gigabit Society” and making it a priority.
The report also classifies the different marketing and pricing strategies being used by ultrafast access providers, and delivers a list of the emerging uses that require a Gigabit speed connections.
And, finally, we pinpoint the factors most likely to galvanise the development of Gigabit access.
Table of contents
1. Executive Summary
2. Methodology & definitions
2.1. General methodology of IDATE reports
2.2. Methodology specific to this report
2.3. Definitions
3. Ultrafast access technologies
4. Rollout status
4.1. The United States: the cradle of Gigabit access
4.1.1. OTT companies interfering in the duel between cable companies and telcos
4.1.2. Government initiatives still have a decisive impact at the municipal level
4.2. In Asia/Pacific, 1 Gbps plans are more and more common
4.2.1. Singapore
4.2.2. Japan
4.2.3. South Korea
4.2.4. Gigabit initiatives emerge in mainland China, while work continues on mobile
4.3. Europe: shifting its focus from SFB to UFB
4.3.1. Scandinavia still the driving force behind SFB and UFB in Europe
4.3.2. Germany performing well on SFB, but the sizeable investment from the private sector required to achieve Gigabit access have yet to be made
4.3.3. SFB still a priority in France, notably via public-initiative networks
4.3.4. Several other operators in Europe have introduced Gigabit plans in recent years, some using technologies other than FTTH
5. Pricing and marketing strategies
5.1. Gigabit-specific applications
5.1.1. Operators’ marketing strategies differ from region to region
5.1.2. Growing use of the cloud stimulating businesses’ interest in Gigabit access
5.1.3. Entertainment still the name of the game
5.2. Gigabit monetisation strategies
5.2.1. In markets where Gigabit access is the most prevalent, starting with Asia, most ISPs are taking a linear approach to pricing
5.2.2. In North America and Europe, cable companies plan on charging more for UFB
6. Keys to the development of Gigabit access
6.1. Quality of service now as important as speed
6.2. Not everyone has made their technological choice
6.3. Mobile could rival fixed access
List of tables and figures
Figure 1: Current status and medium-term outlook for UFB technologies
Figure 2: Countries where Gigabit plans are available, as of March 2017
Figure 3: The Google Fiber footprint: current, upcoming and potential deployments
Figure 4: Availability of Comcast ultrafast access products, as of February 2017
Figure 5: The four main types of municipality involved in Gigabit network projects in the United States
Figure 6: States where there are regulations aimed at limiting the development of municipal telecommunications networks
Figure 7: Map of municipalities in the US with a Gigabit network: more than 50 cities in 19 states at the end of 2016
Figure 8: The Asian approach to UFB/Gigabit access
Figure 9: Singtel’s ad for its 10 Gbps plan, 2016
Figure 10: Singapore’s nationwide Gigabit network model
Figure 11: New segmentation of NTT users, February 2017
Figure 12 KCC targets for 2012 published in 2009
Figure 13: Europe’s approach to UFB/Gigabit access
Figure 14: Breakdown of FTTH coverage in Europe by market players
Figure 15: Demand for bandwidth in Germany in 2025
Figure 16: Status of FTTH rollouts in France, as of September 2016
Figure 17: GiGA Wire technology roadmap
Figure 18: Google Fiber home page
Figure 19: Growth of the global enterprise cloud market by technology, 2015-2020
Figure 20: Screen capture of the “Fibre according to Orange” web page
Figure 21: Installed base of streaming devices in Europe and worldwide, 2010-2015
Figure 22: Comparison of bandwidth needs depending on content resolution
Figure 23: Virtual and augmented reality hardware shipment forecasts, 2015-2025
Figure 24: “HoloLens” augmented reality glasses from Microsoft, in development since 2015
Figure 25: Monthly price of standalone Internet access in Asia, by download speed, February 2017
Figure 26: Monthly price of standalone Internet access in Europe, by download speed, February 2017
Figure 27: Monthly price of standalone Internet access in the United States, by download speed, Feb. 2017
Figure 28: Speed and latency required for the use of a selection of applications and services, by a single person
Figure 29 : How do you think your/your organisation’s uses of the following Internet services and applications will evolve by 2025 compared with today?
Figure 30: In your opinion, how important are the following features of fixed/mobile connectivity today?
How important will they be in 2025?
Figure 31: What features of fixed/mobile connectivity will you or organisation need in 2025?
Figure 32: Individual users’ Internet needs for 2025, by age group
Figure 33: Residential Internet access, by type of connection, EU-28
Figure 34: Comparison of the different fixed and wireless technologies, and their evolutions up to 2020
Geographic area
- China
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- France
- Germany
- Sweden
- United States
Players
- AT&T
- BT
- CenturyLink
- Comcast
- ComHem
- Cox
- Deutsche Telekom
- Elisa
- FCC
- Free
- French Digital Agency
- Gig.U
- Huawei
- KDDI
- KT
- Liberty Global
- MyRepublic
- Orange
- SFR
- SingTel
- SK Telecom
- So-net
- StarHub
- Swisscom
- TDC
- TeleColumbus
- Time Warner Cable
- Turkcell
- Verizon
- Virgin Media
Slideshow
Other details
- Reference: M17540MRA
- Delivery: on the DigiWorld Interactive platform
- Languages available: French, English
- Tags: cable companies, FTTH, Gigabit access, Gigabit Nation, OTT companies, Telcos, UFB, ultrafast access technologies, Ultrafast broadband
