Wireless broadband subscriptions exceeded half a billion in Organization for...

PCs, it said. Fixed broadband subscriptions reached 300 million for the first time, with growth continuing to slow as broadband penetration and market saturation grow in some countries, it said. The Netherlands and Switzerland have 38.1 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, followed by Denmark (37.7) and Norway (34.6), OECD said. Fiber now accounts for over 12 percent of all fixed broadband connections, but DSL is still the most widely used technology, followed by cable, it said. Leading fiber countries include Japan, Korea, Slovak Republic and Sweden, it said. Korea is the top nation in wireless broadband subscriptions, with Finland, Sweden and Norway just behind, it said. Mobile broadband growth is being fueled by cheap, flat-rate mobile data plans, OECD said. The communications sector has emerged from the financial crisis with an underlying strength that “reflects its critical role” in the world economy, it said. Key factors in its resiliency include the long contract terms of mobile operators, growing enthusiasm for bundled TV, mobile and fixed telephony offers that reinforce customer loyalty and reduce churn, and that communication services are increasingly seen as non-discretionary spending items, it said. But some bundled services are so complex they make it difficult for consumers to compare prices and make informed decisions, the OECD said. Bundling may also make it harder for customers to switch to other providers, it said.