UK is still broadband laggard – OECD

Britain remains rooted at the bottom of an international league table of broadband countries despite recording an increased number of hi-speed Internet users.

The latest report from the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) provides further gloomy reading for the e-minister and his broadband cronies as countries such as Korea, Canada and Sweden steam ahead with the adoption of broadband Internet access while the UK trails pitifully behind.

According to the report, The Development of Broadband Access in OECD Countries, Britain languishes in 22 place out of 30 countries with broadband penetration of just 0.28 connections per hundred people.

While many will use this to bash the Government, BT, Oftel - and anybody else who they think is responsible for this abysmal ranking - it is an improvement on the 0.08 broadband connections per hundred people recorded by the OECD earlier this year.

But only just.

However, what's clear is that the UK's progress is slow and below average. Indeed, the UK compares poorly with the OECD average of 1.96 broadband connections per hundred people and the EU's average of 0.82 broadband connections per 100 people.

By comparison, Korea boasts 14 broadband connections per 100 people, Canada 6.22 and Sweden 4.52 broadband connections per hundred people.

The finding of the report makes a mockery of the UK Government's goal of becoming a leading broadband nation by 2005. ®

Related Story

UK is broadband laggard - OECD

Related Link

The Development of Broadband Access in OECD Countries