The number of FTTH subscribers in Europe increased 18% in the last six months to reach nearly 3.9 million (8.1 million including Russia), according to the latest update to the FTTH Rankings announced by the FTTH Council Europe at its annual conference in Milan, Italy. However, the industry needs to accelerate deployment if it is to meet EU targets, warned Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission responsible for the Digital Agenda.

European FTTH/B market as part of the global total
Residential and business users in Europe are not yet convinced of the benefits of FTTH, and penetration rates at the end of 2010 (% of subscribers out of total homes passed) were still very low: 17.5% compared to 39% in Japan and 34% in the United States.

Europe will take actions for faster growth of the FTTH so they catch up with the USA and ASIA.