North America was again a major factor in the continued IPTV success story, with impressive growth of more than 15 percent over the last quarter and a huge 94.2 percent year-on-year improvement, according to new statistics released Tuesday by the Broadband Forum in conjunction with research firm Point Topic. According to the study, there are now nearly 4.5 million lines of IPTV across North America.
Globally, IPTV subscribers have increased from 15.3 million to 23.9 million year over year, or 56.2 percent. Quarterly gains were more than 2.1 million, or 9.8 percent.
Eastern Europe and Latin America each experienced significant IPTV subscriber growth at more than 109 percent year-over year each. Their numbers – 1.15 million and 23,000 – rank fifth and sixth, respectively, compared to the other regions. Eastern Europe had the highest quarterly growth of 21.3 percent.
South and East Asia also put in marked gains with year-over-year growth of more than 91 percent and quarterly growth of more than 10 percent. The region now boasts 3.9 million lines.
Even Western Europe, which has the most IPTV subscribers by far (11.4 milion) made a respectable showing with year-over-year growth rates of nearly 46 percent and quarterly growth approaching 10 percent.
The Asia Pacific region ranks fourth in total numbers of IPTV subscribers at 3 million, but its growth has been slower than the other regions, nearing 15 percent for year-over-year gains and actually declining during the quarter.
The Middle East and Africa region has remained steady at 10,000 subscribers for the forecast period.
