The latest data from broadband stat farm Point Topic suggests that for the first time ever, new fiber connections outpaced new cable broadband connection additions on a global scale during the first quarter of 2008. Given Verizon is the only major US carrier embracing fiber to the home, most of fiber's popularity is coming out of China, Japan and South Korea. According to the press release, it's fiber's cost-per-megabit as much as speed in those countries that's driving adoption:Looking at global averages, the report concludes that DSL can cost the consumer fifteen times as much as fiber, while cable broadband can cost seven times a much. While beating cable globally in new additions shows nice growth, keep in mind that DSL is far more popular than cable broadband outside North America.