Broadband services 

Updated: 5.4.2013 - Next update: 16.10.2013
   
 
 
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The popularity of mobile services has not affected the demand of fixed broadband subscriptions.

The use of mobile data transmission services has increased considerably in recent years. In late 2012, about 4.8 million mobile subscriptions had monthly data transfer plan. Slightly less than half of these were so-called mobile broadband subscriptions without usage limitations set in advance. In addition, about 0.9 million mobile subscriptions had data transfer plans based on other than monthly plans.  

The volume of fixed-line broadband subscriptions has remained rather stable during the past years. Compared to the level of 2012, the proportion of the changes in recent years is only a few per cent.  The ones that grew most during 2012 of fixed broadband subscriptions based on various technologies, were real estate and building subscriptions (by over 110,000 subscriptions) and cable modem subscriptions (by approximately 50,000 subscriptions). Even though the number of subscriptions using DSL technology is dropping, approximately 65 per cent of fixed broadband subscriptions were still based on DSL technology at the end of 2012. About 18 per cent were cable modem subscriptions and about 14 per cent were real estate and building subscriptions.

Consumers have consistently switched to use fixed broadband subscriptions that are faster than before. At the end of 2012, only 7 per cent of fixed broadband subscriptions had a download speed of less than 2 Mbps, while at the end of 2008, for example, the corresponding figure was about 40 per cent.


Source:
Finnish Communication Regulatory Authority FICORA

Description of indicator

The data is collected bi-annually. The subscriptions have been reported in the number of pieces according to 30 June and 31 December.  

The minimum speed of a broadband subscription from the network to the user is 144 kbit/s. The number of subscriptions includes both prepaid subscriptions, which are paid for in advance, and postpaid subscriptions, which are paid afterwards, and which form the majority of the subscription volume. The broadband subscription volume contains both consumer and corporate subscriptions.

DSL subscriptions are broadband subscriptions based on a metallic telephone network. So far, ADSL has been the most popular DSL technology, but it has already been largely replaced by VDSL technology, among others.

Cable modem subscriptions are implemented by the cable television network.

Here, a mobile broadband subscription refers to a mobile subscription with a broadband connection speed and a fixed, monthly charge without spend limits set in advance.

Other broadband connections include, among others, apartment building subscriptions where the building is connected to the data transfer network by a fibre-optic connection, as well as various wireless solutions based on radio technology.