The US passed Japan in wireless broadband penetration for the first time in Q4 2012. Among the G7 countries, the US had 89.8% wireless broadband penetration, Japan came in second at 85.4%, the UK at 71.8%, Italy at 52.2%, and France at 50.8%. The OECD average was 62.7% wireless penetration.
Figure 1: G7 wireless broadband penetration historical through December 2012
Source: OECD.org
US Leads in Wireless Broadband Subscribers
The US also led all countries in wireless broadband subscribers with 280 million subcribers as of December 2012 (see Figure 2). The US had more subscribers than the other top 5 countries combined, namely Japan with 109 million subcribers, Korea with 52 million, the United Kingdom with 46 million, and German with 34 million subscribers.
Figure 2: Total wireless broadband subscribers by country December 2012
Source: OECD.org
Finland Tops in Wireless Broadband Penetration
Finland tops all countries surveyed with 106.5% wireless broadband penetration as of December 2012 (see Figure 3). Sweden followed with 104.8% penetration, Australia at 103.4%, Korea at 103%, and Denmark at 97.3%. The US came in 6th overall at 89.8% wireless broadband penetration.
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Figure 3: Wireless broadband penetration top countries Dec. 2012
Source: OECD.org
US Jumps to 6th Place in Wireless Broadband Penetration</h3
The US jumped two places past Japan and Norway to 6th worldwide in wireless broadband penetration (Figure 4).
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Figure 4: Wireless broadband penetration top countries Dec. 2012
Source: OECD.org
Further Reading
- OECD.org
- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) provided the fourth quarter 2012 results of their broadband survey to the Bandwidth Report.
- Over 700 Million People on Mobile Broadband – US Drops to 8th in Wireless Broadband Penetration Worldwide – February 2013 Bandwidth Report
- More than 700 million people subscribe to mobile broadband plans worldwide, according to a recent survey. The United States dropped to 8th place in wireless broadband penetration in June 2012, passed by a surging Australia.