Telecommuters & remote offices driving broadband adoption in business

Fiber Optics Weekly Update, June 7, 2002

The pressure of a growing remote workforce is driving record numbers of business customers into the waiting arms of broadband providers, according to In-Stat/MDR. From DSL to cable modem services, business customers made up a significant portion of subscribers last year, including those in residential areas. The high-tech market research firm estimates that business subscribers accounted for more than 40 percent of total broadband subscribers (DSL, cable, fixed wireless and satellite) in 2001, with this percentage expected to increase slightly over the next few years. Of the 8 million business subscribers expected by this year's end, more than 60 percent will be in residential areas. Clearly, telecommuters are a key factor in businesses, especially in larger firms.

In-Stat/MDR surveyed 400+ business decision-makers between November 2001 and February 2002 regarding broadband services and equipment usage for a 12-month period, with "connectivity" (LAN, WAN and remote) proving to be a major priority for those surveyed. For additional information on business broadband, including select results extrapolated from recent In-Stat/MDR Business Broadband research, in addition to two other research studies that span across size of business, download In-Stat/MDR's white paper: The Big Comeback? Excerpts from "Business Broadband in a Changed Economy" at: http://www.instat.com/r/businessbroadband.