The number of broadband subscribers worldwide will nearly double over the next five years to more than half a billion, according to research analysis firm In-Stat.

About 65 million new subscribers signed up in the past 12 months, bringing the total to 285 million, In-Stat said. By 2011, the total will be 567 million.

By that time, 58% of all broadband connections will be delivered via DSL, In-Stat said. Nearly 10% will be delivered via fiber-to-the-home.

Today, however, about 92% of broadband connections come through either DSL or cable.