(Telecompaper) FTTx technologies surpassed cable networks in terms of broadband subscriber numbers in Q3 2012, according to the latest figures from Point Topic for the Broadband Forum. At the end of Q3, FTTx had 125.05 million users or 19.7 percent of the global market, versus 121.01 million cable users, equal to a 19.1 percent share. Copper still accounted for over half the market, with 366.96 million broadband users. FTTx also showed the strongest growth in subscribers over Q3, at 26.8 percent year-on-year, while cable grew 7.9 percent, and copper was up 4.8 percent. Of the 54 million new broadband subscribers added in the year to September 2012, 26 million are served by fibre (48%). In total there were 635 million broadband subscribers worldwide at the end of the period, with 12 million new users added in Q3 alone. The figures were announced at the FTTH Conference Europe in London, where the Broadband Forum is also highlighting its work on GPON certification.