IHS unit Infonetics released excerpts from its new “FTTH, DSL and Cable Subscribers” report, which looks at global fixed broadband subscribers, like DSL, cable broadband, FTTH and FTTB+LAN subscribers.

FFTH, DSL, and Cable Subscribers: Annual Market Share, Size and Forecasts; March 2015. Source: IHSThe report finds that fixed broadband subscribers grew 8% in 2014, reaching 733 million as service providers expanded around the world.

“This is a reflection of the importance of broadband connectivity in the daily lives of individuals and businesses, governments and other organizations," says Jeff Heynen, research director for broadband access and pay TV at IHS.

“Broadband has become a consumer-driven industry," Heynen says. Consumers essentially save the fixed broadband business by "binging on Netflix and other streaming video services," and now broadband providers are consistently investing in higher-end FTTX and DOCSIS 3.0 technologies to keep those innovators happy.

Worldwide, subscriber growth is being driven by FTTH and DOCSIS 3.0—Asia Pacific holds 50% of the world's fixed broadband subscribers and continues to see gains in subscriber growth thanks to China, Southeast Asia and emerging markets where broadband penetration continues to increase.

FTTH subscribers rose 22% in 2014 from 2013, crossing the 100 million mark for the first time.

Infonetics predicts that fixed broadband subscribers will grow at a 5% compound annual growth rate from 2014 to 2019. China, Russia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Vietnam and Thailand are expected to lead this growth.