Despite leading the world in broadband subscribers, the US dropped from 17th to 20th place in broadband penetration over the past year (see Figures 1 & 2). Due to its slower growth rate the US fell behind Sweden, the UK, and even tiny Luxembourg in broadband uptake from March 2005 to March 2006, according to Point Topic. Meanwhile, US broadband penetration among active Internet users grew 1.34 percentage points to 73.1% in June 2006.
The Bandwidth Report Category: Global
China will pass US in Broadband Lines by late 2006 – Worldwide Broadband Survey – US Broadband Penetration Breaks 65% Among Active Internet Users – January 2006 Bandwidth Report
At its current growth rate of over 90% per year, China will pass the US in total broadband subscribers by late 2006 to become the largest broadband country in the world. The US has fallen to 19th overall in household broadband penetration, and is in danger of being passed by Slovenia in early 2007. Israel leads all Middle Eastern and African countries, and is the third country overall in broadband penetration. Hong Kong leads the Pacific Rim, with a broadband penetration rate of over 73%. Meanwhile, in December 2005 the US passed 65% in broadband penetration among active Internet users.
US Passes Singapore to 15th in Global Broadband Penetration – US Broadband Grows to 63.8% among Active Internet Users – November 2005 Bandwidth Report
The USA has passed Singapore to 15th overall in global broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants. The US rose from 16th to 15th place overall in broadband penetration passing Singapore in a November 2005 ITU report.
UK Passes US in Broadband Penetration – US Falls to 13th Overall yet leads all countries in total subscribers – October 2005 Bandwidth Report
UK broadband penetration passed the US on a per-capita basis in August 2005. The US continued its fall to 13th place among all OECD countries, according to our extrapolation of OECD survey data and Point Topic. However, the US leads all countries in total broadband subscribers, with twice that of Japan. Finland, the Netherlands, and Norway lead the pack in broadband penetration growth. US Broadband penetration climbed to 62.46% in September 2005, up 1.14 percentage points from 61.32% in August.
FCC Ignores Digital Divide While US Broadband Drops Worldwide – US Broadband Penetration Nears 60% in July – August 2005 Bandwidth Report
The Free Press, Consumers Union, and the Consumer Federation of America respond to the July FCC report with a report titled “Broadband Reality Check” claiming that the US government is stifling broadband competition in favor of the DSL/Cable duopoly. Meanwhile, the US has dropped from 13th to 16th worldwide in broadband penetration. In July, US broadband penetration jumped 1.35 percentage points to 59.92% among active Internet users. By August, US broadband penetration should break 60%.
UK’s Digital Divide – US Broadband Penetration Jumps to 58.5% in April – May 2005 Bandwidth Report
In Britain, broadband penetration is a tale of haves and have-nots. Just as we found in Europe, relatively young and affluent areas have higher broadband penetration rates than older, less affluent constituencies. Does Labour beat the Tory party in the race for broadband supremacy? In April, U.S. broadband penetration jumped by 1.42 percentage points to 58.46% among active Internet users. At its recent growth rate, broadband penetration in the U.S. should break 60% by July 2005 at the latest.
It’s a Broadband World After All – US Broadband Penetration Grows to 56.3% in February – March 2005 Bandwidth Report
Worldwide, broadband penetration has reached 62% among Internet users, according to the “Face of the Web” survey by Ipsos-Insight. The annual survey found that while broadband penetration grew by 24% last year, narrowband connections still dominate many rural areas in Russia, India, Mexico, Brazil, France and the U.K. In February, broadband penetration among active Internet users in the U.S. grew by 0.55 percentage points to 56.29%. Narrowband penetration in US homes fell to 43.71% in February 2005.
US Broadband Penetration Crawls to 43% – Sweden Tops in Internet Penetration – February 2004 Bandwidth Report
Overall, broadband grew by 0.15 percentage points in January, with 43% of Internet-connected U.S. households enjoying a high-speed connection. 57% of US home users dial into the Internet with “narrowband” connections of 56Kbps or less. Sweden leads all countries in Internet penetration at 76.9%.
US Broadband Penetration Jumps to 42.85% – US Ranks 11th Worldwide – January 2004 Bandwidth Report
Overall, broadband grew by 1.31 percentage points in December, with 42.85% of Internet-connected U.S. households enjoying a high-speed connection. 57.15% of US home users dial into the Internet with “narrowband” connections of 56Kbps or less. Worldwide, the U.S. ranks 11th in broadband penetration among developed nations, according to a recent UN study.
Iceland Gives Internet Warm Reception – US Broadband Penetration Now at 38.9% – September 2003 Bandwidth Report
Overall, broadband grew by 1.09 percentage points in August, with 38.9% of US home users enjoying a high-speed connection. 61.1% of US home users dial into the Internet with “narrowband” connections of 56Kbps or less.* Korea leads all countries in broadband adoption per 100 inhabitants, while Iceland leads in Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants.