Reversing a previous trend, the US moved up from 25th to 24th in broadband penetration worldwide in the first quarter of 2007 (see Figure 1). At the high end of the broadband spectrum, South Korea retains its lead over Hong Kong, Monaco, and Iceland in household broadband penetration. At current growth rates however, Hong Kong should pass South Korea in the summer of 2007 to become the leading nation in broadband penetration. Meanwhile, broadband penetration among active Internet users grew to 83.43% in US homes in June, up 0.2 percentage points from 83.23% in June 2007.
Figure 1: Household Broadband Penetration Growth – Top 25 Countries (Q12004-Q12007)
Source: Point Topic
US Jumps to 24th in Broadband Penetration Worldwide
The US moved up one place in household broadband penetration to 24th worldwide in Q1 2007. Australia dropped to 25th place, a reversal of a previous trend. As of Q1 2007 52.72% of US households had a broadband connection while Australia was at 51.93%. South Korea still leads the pack at 89.38%, with Hong Kong at 87.14%, Monaco at 82.92%, Iceland at 75.76%, Singapore at 75.53%, the Netherlands at 73.27%, Denmark at 72.99%, Macau at 72.27%, Isral at 72.07%, and Norway came in at 71.35% household broadband penetration. At current growth rates, Hong Kong should pass South Korea in broadband penetration by the summer of 2007.
Home Connectivity in the US
US broadband penetration grew to 83.43% among active Internet users in July 2007. Narrowband users connecting at 56Kbps or less now make up 16.57% of active Internet users, down 0.2 percentage points from 16.77% in June 2007 (see Figure 2).
Web Connection Speed Trends – Home Users (US)
Figure 2: Web Connection Speed Trends – Home Users (US)
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
Broadband Growth Trends in the US
In July 2007, broadband penetration in US homes grew 0.2 percentage points to 83.43% up from 83.28% in June. This increase of 0.2 points is below the average increase in broadband of 0.8 points per month over the last six months (see Figure 3). US broadband penetration uptake appears to be slowing down over the past few months.
Broadband Adoption Growth Trend – Home Users (US)
Figure 3. Broadband Adoption Growth Trend – Home Users (US)
Extrapolated from Nielsen//NetRatings data
Work Connectivity
As of July 2007, 94.21% of US workers connected to the Internet with broadband, up 0.16 percentage points from the 94.05% share in June. At work 5.79% connect at 56Kbps or less (see Figure 4).
Web Connection Speed Trends – Work Users (US)
Figure 4: Web Connection Speed Trends – Work Users (US)
Source: Nielsen//NetRatings
Further Reading
- Nielsen//NetRatings
- Provided the US broadband penetration data for active Internet users for the Bandwidth Report.
- Point Topic
- Supplied the worldwide broadband penetration data for the Bandwidth Report.