The US dropped to 25th place worldwide in broadband penetration by household, according to a recent survey by Point Topic. From Q2 2009 to Q3 2009 US broadband penetration by household fell from 22nd place to 25th place. Meanwhile, broadband penetration in US homes inched up to 94.55% in December 2009.
US Drops to 25th Place in Broadband Penetration by Household
The US dropped from 22nd place at 28.9% penetration by household to 25th place at 28.1% from Q2 2009 to Q3 2009. Liechtenstein led all countries surveyed in broadband penetration by household at 137.5% (see Figure 1). Monaco followed at 123.1% penetration, Quatar at 115.2%, Malta at 111.3%, Bahrain at 108.7%, and Luxembourg at 105.8%.
Figure 1. Broadband Penetration by Household – Top 20 Countries
Source: Point Topic
As measured by population, broadband penetration the US was still out of the top 20, coming in at 22nd place worldwide at 73.2%, according to the “World Broadband Statistics Q3 2009” survey by Point Topic (Vanier 2009). Liechtenstein again led all countries surveyed with 63.2% of the population on broadband (see Figure 2). Monaco came in second with half the population on broadband (50%), followed by Luxembourg at 43.3%, Denmark at 40.9%, and Iceland at 40.3% penetration of broadband among the population. The UK and Canada finished 18th and 19th in the top 20 countries, at 30.2% and 30.2% penetration respectively.
Figure 2. Broadband Penetration by Population – Top 20 Countries
Source: Point Topic
Yearly Broadband Growth by Country
Moldova leads all countries surveyed with 49.1% growth of broadband lines within the past year. Belarus came in second with a 45.1% increase in broadband lines, followed by Indonesia at 39.2%, Tunisia at 37.9, and Egypt at 37.2%.
Figure 3. Yearly Broadband Growth by Country – Q3 2009
Source: Point Topic
Home Connectivity in the US
US broadband penetration crept up to 94.55% among active Internet users in December 2009. Dial-up users connecting at 56Kbps or less now make up 5.45% of active Internet users (see Figure 4).
Figure 4: Web Connection Speed Trends – Home Users (US)
Source: Nielsen
Broadband Growth Trends in the US
In December 2009, broadband penetration among active Internet users in US homes grew to 94.55%, up 0.1 percentage points from 94.45% in November (see Figure 5).
Figure 5. Broadband Adoption Growth Trend – Home Users (US)
Extrapolated from Nielsen data
Work Connectivity
As of December 2009, 98.63% of US workers connected to the Internet with broadband, down 0.13 percentage points from 98.76% in November 2009. Only 1.37% still connect at 56Kbps or less from work (see Figure 6).
Figure 6: Web Connection Speed Trends – Work Users (US)
Source: Nielsen
Further Reading
- Point Topic
- Vanier, F. World Broadband Statistics Q3 2009, December 2009.
- Nielsen
- Provided the US broadband penetration data for active Internet users for the Bandwidth Report.