The number of users of optical fiber-based broadband services topped the five million mark in Japan by the end of March, a government report showed Tuesday.
At the end of March, the number of subscribers to such services stood at some 5,457,700, an 88 percent surge from a year before, according to the report compiled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Meanwhile, the number of subscribers to broadband services using digital subscriber lines grew only 6 percent, to some 14,517,900.
Compared with DSL services, optical fiber services allow users to enjoy faster communications, at a maximum speed of 100 megabits per second.
In addition to high speed, the introduction of attractive services such as cable broadcaster Usen Corp.'s "Gyao" free broadband video helped to boost the number of users of optical fiber services. (Jiji Press)
原文网址：http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/business/news/20060606p2g00m0bu056000c.html
