New Zealand broadband grew faster than any other country in a recent survey. The US remained in 15th place in broadband penetration worldwide, with a growth rate of 2.6% over the first half of 2012.
New Zealand Broadband Growth Tops Worldwide
New Zealand topped all countries in broadband growth in a recent survey (see Figure 1). In the first half of 2012, New Zealand broadband penetration grew by 4.6%, followed by Chile at 3.9%, Greece at 3.9%, the Czech Republic at 3.8%, the Sloval Republic at 3.1%, Portugal at 2.8% and the United States at 2.6% growth. The US came in 7th in fixed broadband growth, above the OECD average of 1.4% growth worldwide. Portugal, our previous leader, had the lowest growth over the same 6 month period, dropping by 2.1%.
Figure 1: Broadband Penetration Growth by Country December 2011 – June 2012
Source: OECD
US Remains in 15th Place in Broadband Penetration Worldwide
The United States stayed in 15th place in broadband penetration from our last OECD broadband survey. Switzerland topped the list with 41.6% fixed broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants in June 2012, followed by the Netherlands at 39.4%, Denmark at 38.3%, Korea at 36.2%, Norway at 36.1%, France at 35.5%, Iceland at 34.3%, Germany at 33.8%, the United Kingdom at 33.6%, and Belgium at 32.7% broadband penetration. Canada came in 13th at 31.9% penetration. The US came in 15th at 28.4% broadband penetration, up from 27.7% broadband penetration in Dec. 2011 (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Broadband Penetration by Country Versus GDP – December 2011
Source: OECD
Fixed Broadband by Technology
Worldwide, DSL connections dominate the broadband landscape with 54.8% of total broadband subscriptions. Cable modems came in second at 30.4%, Fiber+LAN connections comprised 14.2%, while other connections contributed 0.6% (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: Fixed Broadband Subscriptions by Technology – June 2012
Source: OECD
Broadband Penetration among the G7 Countries
France leads the G7 countries with 35.5% penetration, followed by Germany at 33.8%, the United Kingdom at 33.6%, Canada at 31.9%, and the United States at 28.4% fixed broadband penetration (see Figure 4).
Figure 4: Fixed Broadband Penetration for G7 Countries – June 2012
Source: OECD
Further Reading
- Organization for Economic Development
- June 2012 Broadband Survey.
- Poland Tops in Broadband Growth Worldwide
- Poland topped all countries in broadband growth in a recent survey. The US remained in 15th place in broadband penetration worldwide.