DSL prices in Europe still highest in the world
Europe is still the most expensive region in the world for DSL, the broadband Internet access service which uses an existing telephone network, according to a new report. The latest DSL tariff research, conducted by Point Topic and published in the seventh edition of the DSL worldwide retail directory, shows that for a third year running services in North America and Asia Pacific are lower than in Europe. The figures are based on the 'first year cost' of a service, which averages the initial cost of equipment, installation and activation, and adds it to monthly rental amount. For example, while Canada and Japan both have first year costs of around 30 euro per month, costs in France range from 43 to 69 euro, compared with 60 to 80 euro per month in the UK. Point Topic argue that while the overall range of prices has decreased, or more accurately, the most expensive operators now charge less, European DSL service providers are still at the top of the range. And while prices are expected to converge over time, Point Topic warn that the process will be gradual, and it could be some time before European consumers see the kinds of prices already on offer in the rest of the world.
Countries
Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom