ears is faster than previous services across the OECD Cellular subscribers (1985-1995) Broadband subscribers (1997-2003) Narrow-band Internet subscribers (fixed network) (1992-2001) ISDN subscribers (1989-1999) Million Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Source: OECD, 2005. The demand side focus is on ease of accessibility - as the move to digital mobile clearly demonstrates. Digital mobile based on the GSM standard was a far greater success than expected despite its creation through a regulated standard setting process for new digital mobile technology, rather than a competitive market in technologies. In contrast, various attempts at wideband/broadband rollout have floundered. The first attempt was through ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), in which the public switched telephone network (PSTN) local loop was to be replaced by wideband cabling (coaxial or fibre). More recently various DSL protocols 14 carried over hybrid fibre and coaxial cable (HFC), or the original twisted pair in some installations, have been used to upgrade existing local loops at much lower cost. But again, DSL broadband only took off when real demand appeared, for Internet access. This lack of real demand largely explains the failure of third generation (3G) mobile to take off. Not only have mobile operators been slow in rolling out the network but there have been problems in the availability and price of handsets, while the 3G market seems to have been picking up far more slowly than operators expected. The price of data access is one main inhibitor and the complexity of handsets and services, and fears about pricing are others. INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030: TELECOM, LAND TRANSPORT, WATER AND ELECTRICITY - ISBN 92-64-02398-4 © OECD 2006 2. TELECOMS INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030 The major point here is that there is an underlying force behind the successful developments of recent times. Liberalisation has been a significant driver of infrastructure development over the past 25 years since it has allowed the d