IP Democracy: Global Broadband Prices Drop as Speeds Increase


Top10_DOI1.jpg Courtesy of the ITU Strategy and Policy Unit blog, this new report from the World Information Society that looks at the “digital opportunity” for 180 economies around the globe.

The Society, with the help of ITU and others, calculated a composite index of indicators to determine which countries offer the biggest digital opportunities (voice, data, video, IT and so forth). Korea, Japan and Denmark top the list in terms of digital growth prospects and the U.S. is nowhere to be found on this top ten list (it’s possible just because of how the index was computed that the U.S. is already saturated with digital opportunity and therefore comparatively smaller growth is to be found). Click on the thumbnail for a closer look at these top ten countries.

Even more interesting, the report presents broadband prices around the globe and here the U.S. ranks among the top countries with the lowest broadband prices measured in terms of speed/per dollar paid. However, it looks like the Society included Comcast’s promotion $20/month rate in its calculations rather than the standard price of $42+/month.

Nevertheless, the following table shows that broadband prices around the globe, measured in terms of speed per dollar paid, are dropping.

Lowest Broadband Prices Globally
Rank Economy Company Speed Kbit/s Price/Mo. US $ US$/100 Kbit/s Change 2005 - 2006
1 Japan   Yahoo BB   51,200  $    31.19  $   0.07 -13%
 2  Korea Hanaro   41200  $    40.59  $   0.08 0%
3 Netherlands   Internet Access   20480  $    27.97  $   0.14 -81%
 4   Taiwan  Chunghwa   12288  $    22.67  $   0.18 0%
 5  Sweden   Bredbandsbolaget 24576  $    56.08  $   0.23 -7%
 6  Singapore   Starhub   30720  $    73.17  $   0.24 -85%
 7  Italy   Libero   12288  $    37.23  $   0.30 -74%
 8  Finland   Elisa   24576  $    85.64  $   0.36 -51%
 9  France   Free   10240  $    37.29  $   0.36 -90%
10 U.S. Comcast   4096  $    20.00  $   0.49 0%
11 Germany   Freenet.de   18287  $    30.95  $   0.52 0%
12 U.K. Pipex   8128  $    50.89  $   0.63 -54%
13 Hong Kong Netvigator   6144  $    51.17  $   0.83 0%
14 Portugal   Sapo   8128  $    75.82  $   0.93 0%
15 Canada   Bell Canada 4096  $    41.26  $   1.01 -4%
 Average     18287  $    44.33  $   0.42 -51%
Source:  ITU          


Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on May 19, 2006 12:55 PM to IP Democracy