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OECD Broadband Report Questioned - US Broadband Penetration Grows to 81.8% Among Active Internet Users - May 2007 Bandwidth Report
(PRLEAP.COM) Website Optimization is announcing today that that the US dropped to 15th out of 30 countries surveyed by the OECD. The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) says that the broadband penetration data reported by the OECD is not an adequate measure of a nation’s relative position in broadband technology.
The ITIF suggests that adding speed and price to the equation would show a more complete picture of a nation’s broadband rankings. Calculated in this way the US ranks 12th in global broadband penetration, two spots behind Canada at 10th overall (see Table 1). Turkey paid the highest price for high-speed broadband at $115.76 per month while Japan paid the least for high-speed broadband service at $0.27 per month.
The OECD data was also questioned by Market Clarity recently, a "telecommunications intelligence" firm based in Australia. Not surprisingly Australia came out ahead in the Market Clarity report. The OECD responded with questions of their own about Market Clarity’s methodology.
"Market Clarity™s omission of current, official data sources and subsequent estimation of broadband totals undermines the statistical validity of the report™s findings. In addition, Market Clarity has chosen to adopt a different methodology for counting broadband (e.g. including 3G) than the OECD but then applies it inconsistently. Finally, Market Clarity is also inconsistent across countries in how it attempts to remove connections slower than 256 kbit/s." - Source: OECD
(See Table 1) http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0705/
US Passes Canada in Broadband Penetration
In our last annual US versus Canada broadband survey we found the US fast approaching Canada for broadband penetration among home users. As of March 2007, the US passed Canada in home broadband penetration (see Figure 1). Note that this data is from two different sources, who measure broadband penetration differently. Our US data is for active Internet users, which inflates the figures somewhat. However, the trends show that Canada appears to have reached a plateau in broadband penetration growth while US broadband uptake is still growing.
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0705/
Home Connectivity in the US
US broadband penetration grew to 81.76% among active Internet users in April 2007. Narrowband users connecting at 56Kbps or less now make up 18.24% of active Internet users, down 0.95 percentage points from 19.19% March 2007 (see Figure 2). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0705/
Broadband Growth Trends in the US
In April 2007, broadband penetration in US homes grew 0.95 percentage points to 81.76% up from 80.81% in March. This increase of 0.95 points is above the average increase in broadband of 0.75 points per month over the last six months (see Figure 3). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0705/
Work Connectivity
As of April 2007, 93.46% of US workers connected to the Internet with broadband, up 0.43 percentage points from the 93.03% share in March. At work 6.54% connect at 56Kbps or less (see Figure 4). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0705/
Further Reading
The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
http://www.innovationpolicy.org/
"Assessing Broadband in America: OECD and ITIF Broadband Ranking," recalculated OECD broadband penetration data to take into account speed and price. April 2007.
Market Clarity
http://www.marketclarity.com.au/
The "Broadband Wars: The OECD’s International Broadband Arms Race" report disputes the accuracy of the OECD’s June 30, 2006 assessment of broadband markets in member countries. The OECD rebutted their arguments, questioning the methodology of Market Clarity. May 16, 2007.
Nielsen//NetRatings
http://www.netratings.com/
Provided the US broadband penetration data for active Internet users for the Bandwidth Report.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
http://www.oecd.org/
Provides the twice-yearly OECD Broadband Statistics for 30 member countries.
For the full “May 2007 Bandwidth Report” visit http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0705/
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About The Bandwidth Report
The Bandwidth Report is a monthly roundup of connectivity trends in the US and elsewhere. Each month’s bandwidth report offers the latest statistics in Internet connectivity and broadband trends, including:
* Home Connectivity in the US
* Broadband Growth in the US
* Work Connectivity
* Broadband Trends in the US, Canada, and other countries
About Website Optimization
Don’t Make Me Wait! The new book titled "Speed Up Your Site – Web Site Optimization" by Andy King, and the companion web site are about designing "speedy" web sites with techniques that…
* Cut file size and download times in half
* Speed up site load time to satisfy customers
* Engage users with fast response times and flow stimulus
* Increase usability, boost profits, and slash bandwidth costs
* Improve search engine rankings and web page conversions
Andy King is also the founder of WebReference.com and JavaScript.com, both award-winning developer sites from internet.com. Created in 1995 and subsequently acquired by Mecklermedia (now Jupitermedia) in 1997, WebReference has grown into one of the most popular developer sites on the Internet. While he was Managing Editor of WebReference.com and JavaScript.com, Andy became the "Usability Czar" at internet.com, where he optimized the speed and usability of their sites. In addition to his consulting work, he continues to write the monthly Bandwidth Report and the “Speed Tweak of the Week” for www.websiteoptimization.com.
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