At the end of 2008, approximately 19 per cent Internet connections around the world were at speeds greater than 5 Mbps — a 21 per cent increase over the average global connection speed at the end of 2007.
This is according to the State of the Internet report, a quarterly study by Akamai Technologies, the US-based Internet content distribution giant. The State of the Internet report tracks average connection speeds for countries around the world. Check out the top 10 nations in terms of average Internet connection speed.
1. SOUTH KOREA
South Korea rules supreme when it comes to Internet connection speed and broadband connectivity.
It is the world’s No.1 with average connection speed of 15 Mbps, ten times the global average! During 2008, South Korea’s rate of quarterly change appeared to be locked into a cyclical pattern, with quarterly decreases being recorded in the first and third quarters, and increases seen in the second and fourth quarters.
For the whole year, South Korea saw a modest 7 per cent rise in their levels of high broadband adoption. South Korea is also ranked first in terms of high broadband connectivity with 69 per cent connections above 5 Mpbs.
South Korea, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway had more high broadband IP’s per capita than in the prior quarter. This is consistent with what would be expected from the initiatives to bring higher speed connectivity, including fibre to the home (FTTH) efforts, to consumers in these countries.
Image: People use computers to surf the internet at the free internet zone for visitors at South Korea’s top fixed-line and broadband firm KT Corp in Seoul.
2. JAPAN
Japan ranks 2nd in terms of Internet connection and high broadband connectivity. Japan ranks 2nd in terms of high broadband connectivity. About 54 per cent of the connections in Japan are above 7 Mbps.
Image: A visitor places her hands on a “Tangible Earth”, a digital globe which real time global metrological data is fed through the Internet from about 300 places in the world, is displayed at an exhibition pavillion in Japan. | Photograph: Yuriko Nakao/Japan.
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This is a really great top ten list, it’s amazing to see how South Korea has been able to dominate this. Anyone can post their own list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.