Europe’s cable broadband grows 22%

Cable operators across Europe saw an average 22% increase in customers wanting broadband last year.

Cable Europe, the industry trade body, together with research analysts Cable Europe, say broadband customers grew from 12.8m in 2006 to 15.6m last year. Cable Europe’s members deliver “triple play” TV, internet and telephony services to more than 70 million customers.

Ahead of the upcoming 2008 Cable Congress in Madrid (April 23-25), Cable Europe says last year’s growth is in line with data that emerged earlier this week from the European Commission. Cable Europe’s statement says that cable’s latest DOCSIS 3.0 technology allows download speeds of up to 200 Mbps to consumers.