CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 16, 2010 – Cisco announced today the results of a new Cisco® Broadband Barometer study, reporting a growth of 18 percent in the number of fixed broadband connections in Venezuela, which represents a penetration of 5.2 per 100 inhabitants, during the first six months of 2010.

According to the study, commissioned by Cisco and conducted by the independent research firm IDC, 223,927 new fixed broadband subscriptions were added in Venezuela during the first six months of 2010, reaching a total of 1,460,149 connections.

A third of the fixed broadband connections are concentrated in Caracas, and 67 percent are in the rest of the country.  

Highlights:

• Almost three-quarters (71 percent) of the fixed broadband connections have speeds higher than 512 kilobits per second, and 11 percent of the connections exceed 1 megabit per second.
• According to the analysis made by the Cisco Broadband Barometer, the deployment of more than 5,000 kilometers of fiber optic by CANTV in the south of Venezuela will be an important accelerator of the broadband penetration in the country.
• During the first half of 2010, mobile broadband connections grew by 15.3 percent, reaching 719,790 connections.
• Mobile broadband growth in the areas outside Caracas was propelled by the investments of mobile operators in order to meet the demand in the country's interior.  
• Almost half (46 percent) of the mobile broadband connections are concentrated in Caracas; 54 percent are in the rest of the country.

Supporting Quotes:

• Enrique Mareque, general manager, Cisco Venezuela

"High-speed networks offer a unique and profitable opportunity to increase enterprise productivity and facilitate the processes of regional integration. In addition, they help overcome physical and geographical restrictions to bringing education and health care to citizens."

About Cisco Broadband Barometer

Cisco Broadband Barometer is a Cisco initiative to promote and encourage broadband connectivity in Latin America. It sets goals regarding the number of connections, establishes a periodical measurement of progress, publishes these results, and develops strategies with service providers and governments.

Currently, Cisco Barometer measures broadband growth in Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Peru and Uruguay. The Barometer has been supported in each case by the national government.