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Cheaper Broadband: ITU figures show global costs nearly halved
19 Mar 2010 | 15.43 Europe/London
New figures from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) show that the cost of going online, and buying the necessary equipment, has come down during 2009 by 42%.
The same ITU research also shows that Britain has retained 10th place in its worldwide league table of ICT connectivity, which includes mobile phone penetration, landline availability as well as broadband subscribers.
The figures show that at the end of 2009 24% of Britons were not online, which was comparable to other leading economies, such as the United States of America, on 26%, and South Korea on 23%.
However, the three in four people in Britain who are online is dwarfed by the top performing country in the world, Iceland, where 91% of the population are connected. Sweden (88%), the Netherlands (87%), Denmark (84%) and Finland (83%) made up the rest of the top five.
The least connected countries are Myanmar, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Congo and Cambodia where less than half of a per cent of the population are online.
ICT Pentration – Britain retains 10th spot
The ITU’s league table rates countries with an ICT score based on the penetration of computer equipment, mobile pohnes and broadband connectivity. For the second year running Britain has come 10th behind, from top place down; Sweden (in top spot for the second year in a row), Luxembourg, South Korea, Denmark, Netherlands, Iceland, Switzerland, Japan and Norway.
Around the globe, the ITU claims the cost of broadband connectivity, including the associated equipment (a computer and modem) has dropped by around 42% in 2009 compared to 2008.
This massive drop has been measured against disposable income in more than 150 countries and shows that now, in relation to local incomes, the equipment and connection costs to go online are most affordable in Macoa and Hong Kong in China.
The UK is ninth in this global league table of ICT affordability where ICT costs have reduced from around 0.7% of an average income to 0.6% between 2008 and 2009.
Broadband subscriber penetration
The ICT has also updated its broadband subscriber figures recently which measure the proportion of the population who are broadband subscribers (this figure is lower than the proportion who are online because connections are shared).
Again Sweden is in top place with 37% of its population being subscribers with the UK in 12th spot, at 28%, rubbing shoulder with France (11th place), Germany (14th) and the USA (16th)
The same ITU research also shows that Britain has retained 10th place in its worldwide league table of ICT connectivity, which includes mobile phone penetration, landline availability as well as broadband subscribers.
The figures show that at the end of 2009 24% of Britons were not online, which was comparable to other leading economies, such as the United States of America, on 26%, and South Korea on 23%.
However, the three in four people in Britain who are online is dwarfed by the top performing country in the world, Iceland, where 91% of the population are connected. Sweden (88%), the Netherlands (87%), Denmark (84%) and Finland (83%) made up the rest of the top five.
The least connected countries are Myanmar, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Congo and Cambodia where less than half of a per cent of the population are online.
ICT Pentration – Britain retains 10th spot
The ITU’s league table rates countries with an ICT score based on the penetration of computer equipment, mobile pohnes and broadband connectivity. For the second year running Britain has come 10th behind, from top place down; Sweden (in top spot for the second year in a row), Luxembourg, South Korea, Denmark, Netherlands, Iceland, Switzerland, Japan and Norway.
Around the globe, the ITU claims the cost of broadband connectivity, including the associated equipment (a computer and modem) has dropped by around 42% in 2009 compared to 2008.
This massive drop has been measured against disposable income in more than 150 countries and shows that now, in relation to local incomes, the equipment and connection costs to go online are most affordable in Macoa and Hong Kong in China.
The UK is ninth in this global league table of ICT affordability where ICT costs have reduced from around 0.7% of an average income to 0.6% between 2008 and 2009.
Broadband subscriber penetration
The ICT has also updated its broadband subscriber figures recently which measure the proportion of the population who are broadband subscribers (this figure is lower than the proportion who are online because connections are shared).
Again Sweden is in top place with 37% of its population being subscribers with the UK in 12th spot, at 28%, rubbing shoulder with France (11th place), Germany (14th) and the USA (16th)
