In terms of technology-wise market share, DSL rules with 65 % share followed by 21 % for cable but it is fibre which is estimated to grow rapidly to increase its current market share of 12 %.

“We think that fibre all the way to the home [FTTH] will find it hard to make progress on economic grounds,” explains Johnson. “Hybrid solutions will be popular with the major operators given the shorter period to achieve a suitable return on investment. And as long as they can deliver speeds which give users plenty of headroom then consumer pressure for more will be eased.”