If the competitiveness of nations can be measured by their broadband subscriber rolls, then the United States is on the verge of losing its leadership to China, market researchers at iSuppli Corp. suggest.
China already is rapidly approaching the United States as the country with the largest number of broadband subscribers, according to the El Segundo, Calif.-based firm, and by the end of the year, China is expected to have 34 million subscribers, compared to 39 million in the United States.
By the end of 2007, China is expected to have 57 million broadband subscribers, compared to 54 million in the United States, with an even wider lead in the years to follow.
As nations jockey for economic advantage, broadband access is emerging as a key competitive differentiator, iSuppli noted.
http://www.reed-electronics.com/electronicnews/article/CA529685?nid=2019