Blog — August 12, 2025
APAC fiber homes passed increases, user adoption still lags behind
By Fed Mendoza
Fiber broadband revolution in the Asia-Pacific region continues through various nationwide fiber backbone projects and leading internet service providers investing heavily in the expansion of fiber-optic infrastructure. As of year-end 2024, fiber broadband has become the dominant fixed broadband technology across most Asia-Pacific markets, with about 577.4 million connected households and an 87.4% share of fixed broadband subscriber base, driving significant improvements in internet speeds, reliability and digital advancements. Though despite the extensive network reach, actual household take-up rates of fiber broadband services remain below 50% in most Asia-Pacific markets as of the first quarter of 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan.
In advanced Asia-Pacific markets like Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong, their significant government policies and operator initiatives are driving rapid fiber broadband deployment, aiming for near-universal coverage and integration with emerging technologies, such as 5G, while addressing challenges related to rural access and user adoption rates.
➤ Emerging markets India and the Philippines are making substantial progress in expanding fiber networks. Initiatives, including India's BharatNet project and the Philippines' National Fiber Backbone, are expected to enhance connectivity and digital inclusion across the market.
Fiber broadband contributes significantly to Asia-Pacific's digital landscape. By 2031, fiber is projected to account for nearly 90.3% of all fixed broadband households in the region. This shift is the result of the efforts of both the government regulators and telcos to replace legacy copper and cable networks with high-capacity fiber infrastructure. We project the region's fiber broadband subscriptions to reach 824.4 million by 2031, reflecting the scale of increasing adoption.
Through fiber dominance, high-speed connectivity enables the growth of digital economies, supporting smart city initiatives and fostering innovation in sectors, such as education, healthcare and manufacturing. ISPs are increasingly bundling fiber plans with value-added services, including pay TV, over-the-top, cloud storage and smart home solutions, driving up average revenue per user and customer loyalty.
However, rural and remote areas still face barriers to fiber deployment due to high costs and logistical problems. To address these gaps, alternative solutions, such as 5G fixed wireless access (5G FWA) and satellite broadband are being explored. Additionally, while fiber networks are widespread, actual household take-up lags behind, highlighting the need for continued efforts to boost digital demand, affordability and localized strategies. Our analysis shows fiber broadband service take-up rates in most markets remain below 50% as of the first quarter of 2025.
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Global Broadband & Pay TV is a regular feature from S&P Global Market Intelligence Kagan.