ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich.,  June 21,  2004/Satnews/ While ultra-long-haul and long-haul telecommunications networks brim with capacity, many of the world's local distribution networks lag far behind, constraining the flow of traffic. Broadband, however, is fundamentally altering this situation. Ever greater numbers of households and small businesses are purchasing high-speed, Internet connections in an increasing number of countries. According to Accuture Telecom Research's latest market report, Broadband Access Markets 2004 - Worldwide, Regional and Country Forecasts of Broadband Access Equipment and Service Markets Through 2010, the number of worldwide residential and small business broadband accounts will increase to 126 million by year's end 2004 and to 351 million by 2010. In response to this demand, service providers are expanding their broadband networks, which will generate revenues of $181.6 billion by 2010. Correspondingly, broadband equipment markets will remain robust with annual global sales reaching $11.3 billion by 2010.

"Demand for broadband access continues unabated," according to Paul Kellett, principal analyst at Accuture. "We analyzed equipment and service markets in fifty-seven individual countries for DSL, cable modem, fixed wireless, satellite, and fiber-to-the-home. Our findings indicated robust demand for a number of equipment categories in many countries. As a consequence, leading companies, such as Alcatel, Terayon, Lucent, ADC, Ericsson and Nortel, are well positioned to reap sizeable economic benefits."

Accuture is an international market research firm specializing in broadband access and optical networking technologies and markets.

For more information on the report, Broadband Access Markets 2004 - Worldwide, Regional and Country Forecasts of Broadband Access Equipment and Service Markets Through 2010, contact Accuture sales on (248) 375-9234. Individual reports on Broadband Access Service Markets, Broadband Pricing Models, Broadband Country Profiles, and Broadband Access Equipment Markets are also available.