It refers to the number of subscriptions to high-speed access to the public Internet (a TCP/IP connection), at downstream speeds equal to, or greater than, 256 kbit/s expressed as thousand subscribers. This includes cable modem, DSL, fibre-to-the-home/building, other fixed-broadband subscriptions, satellite subscriptions and terrestrial fixed wireless subscriptions. This total is measured irrespective of the method of payment. It excludes subscriptions that have access to data communications (including the Internet) via mobile-cellular networks. It includes both residential subsriptions and subscriptions for organizations.