50 Million Americans Go Online in First Quarter
(COMTEX)B:
LOS ANGELES (May 2) XINHUA - Dial-up Internet service provider (ISP) remains the
most popular Internet access method in the United States, despite growth in the
emerging high-speed access marketplace, according to a report released Tuesday.
The method now accounts for nearly 46.7 million U.S. customers in the first
quarter of this year, up 10 percent since the end of 1999, according to
Telecommunications Reports International, a U.S. communications industry
information service.
In total, more than 50 million consumers joined the online world during the
first quarter, an increase of 11 percent as compared to the previous quarter.
Among high-speed access technologies, digital subscriber line (DSL) service
registered the highest growth rate, 183 percent, but captured less than 200,000
customers so far, while access via cable modems increased by 44 percent,
capturing 2.3 million customers. Access via Internet TV saw a slight decline in
subscribers to just over 1.1 million.
Heated competition, mergers and acquisitions, and alternative business models
have continued to have an impact on the top-tier ISP marketplace during the
period. According to the report, the six largest ISPs, led by America Online,
now account for 73 percent of the total online audience in the United States. As
more customers turn to high-speed access, the report said, the dial-up ISP
market may see significant changes in its demographics and services as premium
customers and features move to the high-speed platforms.
Copyright XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
Ron Dior |
