Global Broadband is Speeding Up, Says latest “State of the Internet” Report

First Quarter, 2012 State of the Internet Report from Akamai

Photo Credit: Akamai http://www.akamai.com/stateoftheinternet/

The broadband revolution is proceeding apace across the globe as internet speed and adoption have increased at faster paces. The Akamai company recently released its First Quarter, 2012 State of the Internet report which discusses important global broadband statistics like internet penetration rates, mobile connection speeds, regional and global connection speeds, and broadband adoption among many others. The report, in addition to providing invaluable insight into global trends in broadband, also underscores the role broadband and mobile technologies can play in the future of development.

Thanks to an ever-increasing demand for connectivity in both developed and emerging economies the world has seen a dramatic rise. Broadband speed has increased to such an extend that Akamai has redefined what it calls “high-broadband.” Previously, any connection at speeds of 2Mbps or higher was defined as broadband, but now Akamai will consider connections of 4Mbps has broadband and connections of 10Mbps has high broadband.

For the first quarter of 2012, the report points out a series of trends:

A 6 percent global increase in the number of unique IP addresses to over 666 million in between fourth quarter 2011
A global average of peak connection speed of 13.5 Mbps
A global average connection speed of 2.6Mbps
A global average mobile connection speed range between 32.2 Mbps and 2.2 Mbps
A doubling in global mobile data traffic between the first quarters of 2011 and 2012
A global increase in adoption of high broadband

These statistics are certainly promising, especially when considered within the context of the increasingly important role broadband and mobile broadband can play in process of development. The global doubling of mobile broadband certainly lends itself to the existing forecasts of the increasing prominence and importance of smartphones in many developing countries as price wars continue to drive down device prices. All this, when added with the World Bank’s recent Maximizing Mobile report on harnessing mobile for development, adds up to a future full of potential, fueled by broadband.

As we move forward it is important that we remember these technologies are only as good as their connection. Many developing countries still have a pronounced rural/urban digital divide in both access and connectivity. If the potential of these technologies can be fully realized, it is crucial that policy makers commit reducing these gaps.