The number of U.S. households subscribing to broadband over power line (BPL) services will increase from 400,000 in 2007 to 2.5 million by 2011, according to a report from Parks Associates.

That translates into a BPL growth rate that will outpace DSL and cable over the next five years – a phenomenon based entirely on the smaller numbers of customers involved.

BPL will grow almost by necessity, by virtue of the presence of power lines even in places where there are no phone or cable wires. Parks Associates says that makes BPL the only option for connectivity.

The summary of the report, “FTTx and BPL: Analysis and Outlook,” does not mention the potential for wireless access, including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and cellular networks.

“FTTx and BPL: Analysis and Outlook” analyzes market trends and significant events that will impact FTTx and BPL deployments over the next five years. It also addresses consumer and competitive pressures that will influence these methods, the economics associated with the deployment of these technologies and the opportunities FTTx and BPL provide for vendors and service providers.