About 4% of local online consumers using broadband Internet access

Nearly 10% of all online users surf with DSL or cable

The results of a recent research project into the demographics of the Web launched by the National Cable and Telecommunications Association indicates the broadband community in the U.S. consists of 5.5 million people, or about 8.5% of the 65,000,000 users having online access who have access in the mainland. The majority of these users access the Internet through carriers such as AT&T Broadband and AOL-Time Warner Inc's RoadRunner service.

You might be surprised to know that here at home, that percentage is consistent with the number of users who take advantage of broadband internet access from local Internet service providers. Recent local data indicates that of the approximate 28,000 homes on the island which could avail of online access, about 6.5% (less than 1,825) are using either DSL or cable modem technologies to access get online.  Internet Service Provider Talaya has the majority of the broadband online consumer market, with more than 600 customers signed up for its DSL product offering. Rival telecomm firm InternetPCI has about 450 users on its own DSL network, and Guam's first ISP, Kuentos Communications serves more than 700 users on its cable modem network, since merging with Marianas Cablevision last year.  (There are only a handful of consumers using ISDN service through either Talaya, Kuentos, or PCI.)

Local consumers use broadband access mainly as a means of faster Internet connectivity, largely consisting of Web browsing, and e-mail.  It is rare that users make use of the abundance of speed for applications such as videoconferencing, IP networking, or remote systems management, the true .  Likewise, many of the advanced applications of broadband communications making use of cross-media convergence are not yet supported by vendors, ISPs, or utilized by businesses. 

 InternetPCI President John Day says that while initial acceptance of the long-awaited DSL access was great, the numbers in signups have tapered off, due largely to the increase in competition, complaints about rates comparable to that of providers in the states, the consolidation/bundling of services by ISPs, and the general downturn of the local economy.  However, Day is optimistic about local consumers being able to more-effectively realize the benefits of highspeed Internet access.  "These days, people are staying online for hours at a time doing MP3s and things of that nature....we'll start to see more and more people really start to use broadband for what it was intended for...more advanced data communications."

Local data also shows that the there are more than 35,000 online users on Guam (including corporate, military, UOG, and GovGuam accounts).