UK Passes Japan in Broadband Penetration - US Broadband Penetration Slows to 76.6% Among Active Internet Users - November 2006 Bandwidth Report

Website Optimization is announcing today that UK passed Japan and the US in broadband penetration in the first quarter of 2006 (see Figure 1). Among G7 countries, only Canada had a higher broadband penetration rate, according to a recent broadband survey by OECD. The UK's faster growth rate, over twice that of Japan, propelled it past Japan around March of 2006 (see Figure 2). Meanwhile in the US, broadband growth slowed in October, growing only 0.27% percentage points to 76.6% among active Internet users over the past month.

UK Passes Japan in Broadband Penetration

Over the past year, the UK added a net increase of 6.1 subscribers per 100 inhabitants. The US added 4.7 subscribers, while Japan added 2.6 (see Figure 2). As predicted the UK's superior growth rate propelled it past the US and Japan to become second only to Canada among G7 countries surveyed in broadband penetration. http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

Switzerland Passes Korea in Broadband Penetration

Among the top 5 countries in broadband penetration per 100 inhabitants, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Switzerland all show faster growth rates, while Iceland and Korea are leveling off (see Figure 3). At these growth rates Switzerland passed Korea to become fourth overall in broadband penetration worldwide in the third quarter of 2006. http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

Total Broadband Subscribers

Over the past year, the US has maintained its lead with 31% of total broadband subscribers worldwide. While they have added subscribers over the past year, Japan, Korea, and Germany have lost ground percentage-wise as broadband spreads to other countries, dropping from 15% to 13%, 9% to 7%, and 7% to 6% respectively (see Figure 4 and UK Passes US in Broadband Penetration). The UK maintained its fourth place position over the past year with 6% of total broadband subscribers.
http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

Broadband Penetration Correlates with GDP Per Capita, not Population Density

Broadband penetration appears to have a stronger correlation with GDP per capita (see Figure 5) than with population density. Broadband penetration had a correlation of 0.629 with GDP per capita and a correlation of 0.245 with population density (see Figure 6). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

Home Connectivity in the US

US broadband penetration among active Internet users grew to 76.6% in October 2006. Narrowband users connecting at 56Kbps or less now comprise 23.4% of active Internet users, down 0.27 percentage points from 23.67% in September 2006 (see Figure 7). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

Broadband Growth Trends in the US

In October 2006, broadband penetration in US homes grew 0.27 percentage points to 76.6%, up from 76.33% in September. This increase of 0.27 points is well below the average increase in broadband of 1.16 points per month over the last six months (see Figure 8). At current growth rates US broadband penetration should break 80% among active Internet users by January 2006 (note the slowdown, last month's prediction was December 2006). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

Work Connectivity

As of October 2006, 91.71% of US workers were on broadband, up 0.29 percentage points from the 91.42% share in September. At work 8.29% connect at 56Kbps or less (see Figure 9). http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

For the full “November 2006 Bandwidth Report” visit http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/0611/

###

About The Bandwidth Report

The Bandwidth Report is a monthly roundup of connectivity trends in the US and elsewhere. Each month's bandwidth report offers the latest statistics in Internet connectivity and broadband trends, including:

Home Connectivity in the US
Broadband Growth in the US
Work Connectivity
Broadband Trends in the US, Canada, and other countries

About Website Optimization

Don't Make Me Wait! The new book titled "Speed Up Your Site – Web Site Optimization" by Andy King, and the companion web site are about designing "speedy" web sites with techniques that…

Cut file size and download times in half
Speed up site load time to satisfy customers
Engage users with fast response times and flow stimulus
Increase usability, boost profits, and slash bandwidth costs
Improve search engine rankings and web page conversions

Andy King is also the founder of WebReference.com and JavaScript.com, both award-winning developer sites from internet.com. Created in 1995 and subsequently acquired by Mecklermedia (now Jupitermedia) in 1997, WebReference has grown into one of the most popular developer sites on the Internet. While he was Managing Editor of WebReference.com and JavaScript.com, Andy became the "Usability Czar" at internet.com, where he optimized the speed and usability of their sites. In addition to his consulting work, he continues to write the monthly Bandwidth Report and the “Speed Tweak of the Week” for www.websiteoptimization.com.

###