Brussels, 11/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - The cable industry is in fine fettle and is continuing to grow despite the economic downturn, reveal the latest figures from Cable Europe, an association grouping all leading broadband cable TV operators and their national associations throughout Europe. The figures, published to coincide with the opening of Cable Congress 2010, in Brussels last week, highlight the continued strong growth of cable, Europe's most widespread distribution platform for telephone, television and high speed broadband internet services. The economic downturn has affected virtually every industry, with the exception of cable, which showed a 3% increase in its turnover in 2009, Cable Europe reports. Last year, income was €17.9 billion, compared with €17.4 billion in 2008. Annual industry figures reveal, too, 13.4% growth in subscribers for broadband internet - now 21.5 million connections across Europe - and 21% growth in digital television subscribers, now up to 21.5 million. A milestone was reached over the course of the last few months of 2009, with digital cable TV revenues for the first time outstripping analogue revenues, cable operators say. “Fibre-speed is launching us to new levels of performance in living rooms across Europe. With 100 Mb+ speeds now available in 13 countries, we continue to set new benchmarks,” commented Cable Europe President Manuel Kohnstamm, adding, “We could not be more supportive to the policy makers of Europe in their vision of the new Digital Agenda”. Caroline Van Weede, Cable Europe's Managing Director, said that, “as analogue growth tails off, it makes room for the strong growth we're seeing in digital TV as well as positive high speed broadband revenue. Video on Demand is clearly here to stay and with 18% growth in revenues makes a strong case for future offers of easy access easily accessible legal content with fibre-speed”.
Cable Europe says that it and the wider European ICT industry, responsible for 40% of Europe's GDP, will be delivering on Joint Recommendations delivered to the Spanish Presidency (see EUROPE 10060). Broadband-based innovation has the potential in Europe of creating up to one million jobs and related growth of economic activity of €849 billion by 2015, Cable Europe says. (I.L./transl.rt)