US is 15 years behind S.Korea in Internet speed

by Kunal on Aug.26, 2009, under Technology

The US ranks 28th in the world in average Internet connection speed according to the nationwide study of real-time Internet connection speeds released by Communications Workers of America

WASHINGTON, USA: No doubt, the United States is a much developed nation and the IT industry world over depends on that country a lot in business. But when it comes to the average Internet speed, big brother US lags behind many developed nations, said a recent report released by Communications Workers of America (CWA).

The average download speed in South Korea is 20.4 megabits per second (mbps) – four times faster than the US average of 5.1 mbps. The US ranks 28th in the world in average Internet connection speed according to the nationwide study of real-time Internet connection speeds.

At this rate, it will take the US 15 years to catch up with current Internet speeds in South Korea, the country with the fastest average Internet connections, said the report.

The CWA report added that the fastest download speeds in the US are in the northeastern parts of the country whereas the slowest are in states such as Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Between 2007 and 2009, the average download Internet speed in the US has increased by only 1.6 megabits per second (mbps), from 3.5 mbps in 2007 to 5.1 mbps in 2009.

The Speed Matters Speed Test, a project of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), measures the speed of a user’s Internet connection. The 2009 report is based on aggregated data from more than 413,000 Internet users who took the online test between May 2008 and May 2009, the release added.

According to the study, only 20 per cent of those who took the test have Internet speeds in the range of the top three ranked countries – South Korea, Japan and Sweden. Even more alarming, 18 per cent do not even meet the FCC definition for current-generation broadband as an always-on Internet connection of at least 768 kbps downstream.

Continued job growth, innovation and rural development require high-speed, universal networks, CWA said in a press release. Data shows that for every $5 billion invested in broadband infrastructure to create these networks, 97,500 new jobs in the telecommunications, computer and IT sectors will be created.

"Every American should have affordable access to high-speed Internet, no matter where they live. This is essential to economic growth and will help maintain our global competitiveness," said Larry Cohen, president, Communications Workers of America. "Unfortunately, fragmented government programs and uneven private sector responses to build out Internet access have left a digital divide across the country."

He also applauded the Obama Administration and Congress for their commitment to develop a national plan that restores U.S. leadership in high-speed Internet policy.

"Improving broadband deployment, connection speeds, and adoption will help facilitate job and business growth. By continuing these efforts we can make sure that America benefits from the information age," said Cohen.