Monaco had the highest global broadband penetration rate of 47.4 percent, trumping all other countries in a recent survey. The UK dropped from 14th place to 17th place in broadband penetration over the past two quarters, according to Point Topic. Moldova’s broadband subscribers grew by nearly 20% over the past quarter and by 100% over the past year. Meanwhile in the US, broadband penetration crept up to 93.5% among active Internet users.
Monaco Leads all Countries in Broadband Penetration
Monaco drew a winning hand in a recent survey with 47.5 percent of the population on broadband, followed by Luxembourg at 46.9% in Q2 2009 (see Figure 1). Iceland jumped past Denmark into third place at 38.6%, with Denmark dropping to fourth at 37.8% and Switzerland moving up to fifth place from seventh at 37.1%. Indonesia grew even faster than Moldova over the past year at 106.4 percent, but its growth slowed in the last quarter.
Measured by household penetration, Luxembourg displaced Monaco for the number one spot for the first time since Q4 2007. Luxembourg had a household penetration rate of 117.2 percent, followed by Monaco at 116.9 percent, new entrant Qatar at 111.1 percent, with Malta and Bahrain tied for fourth at 101.7 percent. In the two quarters since our last survey (Q4 2008 to Q2 2009), the UK dropped from 14th place in broadband penetration to 17th place overall at 29.9 percent and the USA dropped to 22nd place at 28.9 percent.
Figure 1: Top 10 Countries Broadband Penetration by Population Q1 2009 – Q2 2009
Source: Point Topic
Moldova Fastest Growing Broadband Country
Moldova had the highest quarterly growth rate of 19.9 percent, among countries surveyed with more than 100,000 broadband subscribers (see Figure 2). Moldova had an annual growth rate of broadband subscribers of 100 percent, second only to Indonesia at 106.4 percent. Indonesia was in second place in quarterly growth in Q2 2009 at 13.8 percent. The Philippines came in third at 11.7 percent, followed by Tunisia at 10.3 percent, and Vietnam at 10.1 percent.
Figure 2: Top 10 Countries Broadband Subscriber Growth – Q2 2009
Source: Point Topic
Home Connectivity in the US
US broadband penetration grew to 93.52% in August 2009. Dial-up users connecting at 56Kbps or less now make up 6.48% of active Internet users (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: Web Connection Speed Trends – Home Users (US)
Source: Nielsen
Broadband Growth Trends in the US
In August 2009, broadband penetration among active Internet users in US homes grew to 93.52%, up 0.21 percentage points fron 93.31% in July (see Figure 4).
Figure 4. Broadband Adoption Growth Trend – Home Users (US)
Extrapolated from Nielsen data
Work Connectivity
As of August 2009, 98.65% of US workers connected to the Internet with broadband, up 0.21 percentage points from 98.44% in July 2009.
Some 1.35% connect at 56Kbps or less (see Figure 5).
Figure 5: Web Connection Speed Trends – Work Users (US)
Source: Nielsen
Further Reading
- Nielsen
- Provided the US broadband penetration data for active Internet users for the Bandwidth Report. Starting with our July 2009 broadband survey we have some new more accurate data for you based on a larger sample size.
- Point Topic
- Provided the worldwide broadband penetration data in their “World Broadband Statistics, Q2 2009” report by Fiona Vanier, September 2009.