As the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce get set to launch its report tomorrow, a report by Akamai reckons that internet speeds in Ireland are almost three times the global average, making them the seventh-fastest in the world.
Akamai’s quarterly ‘State of the Internet’ report measures Ireland’s broadband penetration at 86pc, a promising figure as Minister Pat Rabbitte prepares to launch the ‘Report of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce’ tomorrow, which will help to develop an informed and ambitious national broadband plan for Ireland.
Ireland’s speeds have seen 39pc year-on-year growth, peaking in the third quarter of last year at 7Mbps. The most recent figure from the end of 2011 shows an average speed of 6.8Mbps and average peak connection speed of 24.2Mbps.
While Ireland’s neighbours in the UK (5.1Mbps) and France (4.1Mbps) are far from the top 10, Ireland places seventh in the ranking of global internet speeds. The top spot goes to South Korea with a whopping average speed of 17.5Mbps. Japan and Hong Kong are its closest contenders, but are still far behind at 9.1Mbps apiece.
Despite these high speeds, the global average is disappointing, having dropped 14pc to just 2.3Mbps. With no sufficient explanation for the drop, it may be no more than a blip when you consider the year-on-year growth of average speeds is 19pc.
