Ovum RHK has published the results of a 14-country independent assessment of broadband deployments and service drivers in the Asia-Pacific region, with a specific focus on FTTx (optical fiber). “Ovum RHK believes there will be over 240million broadband subscribers in Asia-Pacific by the end of 2011,” said Lynn Hutcheson, vice president, communication components at Ovum RHK. “APAC has over 80% of the worldwide FTTx deployments. Many operators indicated that content services were going to be a key component of their offerings. However, there are vast differences as to how each country regulates IPTV and content delivery over telecom infrastructures.” The report reveals other factors contributing to FTTx expansion including national broadband initiatives, inter-carrier competition, and delivery of basic broadband services. This is an update to the study published July 2007 which includes the number of subscribers, operator initiatives and regulatory issues. Based on interviews with major carriers and primary suppliers in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, the study addresses FTTH/FTTB, DSL, and CMTS initiatives throughout the region. It was conducted jointly by Ovum RHK and the APAC FTTH Council.