Research firm predicts annual growth rates of 72 per cent

New forecasts predict that the number of DSL subscribers worldwide will grow from 97 million in 2004 to 256 million in 2009, at a compound annual growth rate of 21 per cent.

Market research house Research and Markets believes that this growth will form the basis for a surge in IP TV subscribers.

The research firm expects the number of global IP TV subscribers to grow from 4.3 million in 2005 to 36.8 million in 2009, at a compound annual growth rate of 72 per cent.

Europe is leading the market for subscriber numbers, while Asia and North America have fallen off slightly due to a slower than expected rate of fibre deployment, especially with AT& T in the US.

Some service providers in Asia are having difficulty marketing the service and Research and Markets has tempered its enthusiasm for the Chinese market.

Meanwhile, BT is planning to deliver IPTV services in the UK this year. The telco has joined forces with Philips and Microsoft to offer combined access to 30 digital terrestrial channels, video on demand and a range of interactive services using broadband.

The move will put BT in direct competition with satellite broadcasters such as BSkyB, which recently bought internet service provider Easynet.