(29 July 2006 2:25 pm)

MUMBAI: US media watchdog The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released new data on high-speed connections to the Internet in the US.

High-speed Internet subscriptions soared 33 per cent last year to 50.2 million line. 42.9 million served primarily residential end users. Cable modem service represented 57.5 per cent of these lines while 40.5 per cent were asymmetric DSL (ADSL) connections, 0.3 per cent were symmetric DSL (SDSL) or traditional wireline connections, 0.5 per cent were fiber connections to the end user premises and 1.2 per cent used other types of technology including satellite, terrestrial fixed or mobile wireless (on a licensed or unlicensed basis), and electric power line.

The increase in ADSL lines exceeded the increase in cable modem connections. ADSL increased by 3.2 million lines during the second half of 2005 compared to an increase of 1.6 million lines for cable modem service. For the full year, ADSL increased by 5.7 million lines compared to an increase of 4.2 million lines for cable modem service.

DSL is typically less expensive than cable Internet service but offers slower download speeds.

The US is ranked 12th in the world for broadband subscribers behind countries including Iceland, South Korea and Japan, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's most recent rankings.