The number of people expected to be using internet broadband services will reach 740 million in the next five years, it has been claimed.
And according to the report in ISPreview, the biggest areas for broadband take-up will be in Eastern Europe and South East Asia.
The research, conducted by Point Topic, predicts that by 2014, emerging nations will account for about 320 million broadband lines, around 43% of the world's total.
Growth in broadband mature countries is predicted to be just 4.6%, as it is already at saturation point.
But according to the research, there will be a major shift to next-generation broadband in these countries.
The need for the shift was highlighted last month by Adam Afriyie, the Shadow Minister for Science and Innovation, who said in order for businesses to compete at an international level, they will need faster broadband connections.