Internet Speeds Around the World: A Report

In today's global economy, the Internet is the glue that keeps us connected. One of the most important aspects of this connection is the speed with which we link up. The global average connection speed continued to grow in the first quarter of 2013, increasing four percent from the previous quarter and 17 percent over last year, according to Akamai's State of the Internet report. There are, however, a handful of tech-savvy countries that do this exceedingly well.

On Top
South Korea continues to top the charts. The average connection speed in South Korea is 14.2 megabits per second (Mbps), and more than 50 percent of South Koreans have access to fiber optic Internet access. In a recent interview with Bill Moyer, Susan Crawford, former special assistant to President Obama for science, technology and innovation, spoke of the South Korean competition being so steep, it's not uncommon for one to have three to four high-speed Internet service providers (ISPs) available to choose from for their home, with set-up often being available within one day. Coming in after South Korea are Japan, Hong Kong and Switzerland, with the Netherlands, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Sweden rounding out the list.

In America
The United States comes in ninth, down from eighth in the previous year, with an average Web connection of 8.6 Mbps. Despite this seemingly dismal number, Internet speeds in America are actually up 27 percent over last year. Given that Akamai surveys 243 countries to produce its report, ninth place doesn't seem too low. To put things into perspective, the global average is 3.1 Mbps.

Peak Connection Speeds
When it comes to peak connection speeds, Hong Kong moves to the number one spot, with a whopping 63.6 Mbps, more than three times the global average of 18.4 Mbps. Japan holds the number two spot, with an average peak speed of 50 Mbps. Romania follows with 47.9 Mbps, then South Korea with 44.8 Mbps, and Latvia with 44.2 Mbps. The U.S. doesn't break the top 10 in the peak connection speed category, coming in at number 11 with 36.6 Mbps, double the global average. Nevertheless, the average peak speed in the U.S. is steadily improving: it's 11 percent faster than the previous quarter.

American providers are also stepping up to the plate to provide better, faster access to more consumers. Google launched Google Fiber in 2012, an experimental all-fiber network in Kansas City, Kan., that delivers super high-speed broadband and TV services (the service is coming to Austin, Texas, and Provo, Utah). This summer, Verizon rolled out its top-tier FiOS Quantum Internet service. The service features speeds of 500 Mbps download and 100 Mbps upload. Moreover, some states fare better than others in providing faster speeds. If you live in Vermont, for example, your average speed is likely around 12.7 Mbps, making your Internet faster than Japan's.

Speed Costs
However, these fast speeds often come with a lofty price tag. For American consumers, Verizon's FiOS service is available as part of a bundle or in stand-alone fashion, starting at $309.99 per month. Google Fiber, while affordable on a month-to-month basis, has a steep $300 service initiation fee. Crawford says similar speeds in Hong Kong cost citizens about $25 a month. In Seoul, South Korea, the same service is $30 a month.

While affordable fiber optic access might not yet be available to most of America, there are still wallet-friendly options. Satellite Internet providers such as www.hughesnetinternet.net and dishNET offer speeds in the 15 or more Mbps range. Also, the U.S. fares well in terms of high broadband adoption rates, with one quarter of the country's connections above 10 megabits per second. So it's likely that faster, cheaper connectivity is right around the corner.