As of August 2024, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had the fastest average fixed broadband internet speed worldwide, with an average of 297.62 Mbps. Singapore ranked a close second at 297.57 Mbps, while Hong Kong followed in third. Fixed internet connections deliver broadband to a home, office, or other fixed location, with fiber connections offering the best quality service.

As of June 2024, Qatar had the fastest average mobile internet connection worldwide, nearly 335 Mbps. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) followed, registering average median speed above 323 Mbps. Fixed-connection speeds around the world When it comes to fixed broadband connections, Singapore tops the list of countries by average connection speed. Internet users in Singapore achieve an average fixed broadband connection speed of 242.01 Mbps, slightly faster than the 222.49 Mbps achieved in Chile, the second-placed country on the speed rankings. 5G and 6G – the future of mobile broadband In countries where it is in use, 5G is already bringing faster mobile internet connection speeds than ever before. In Saudi Arabia for example, the average 4G connection speed sits at 28.9 Mbps, and this speed jumps to 414.2 Mbps on a 5G connection. Now that 5G is commercially available, researchers have already turned their attention to 6G. Operating at a higher spectrum band, 6G will allow connections several times faster than 5G. User experienced data rates of 5G sit at 100 Mbps, and this speed is expected to climb to 1,000 Mbps on 6G connections. 6G is expected to not only provide faster speeds, but also enable more devices to connect to a network without causing congestion as it has a connection density ten times greater than that of 5G.

The statistic shows the countries with the highest average internet connection speed during the first quarter of 2017, measured in Megabits per second. During that quarter, IPv4 internet connections in Norway averaged a connection speed of 23.5 Mbps. The global average IPv4 connection speed was 7.2 Mbps.

Average connection speeds are higher in developed Asian countries; South Korea leads with an average connection speed of 28.6 Mbps. This is a growth of more than 9.3 percent to the first quarter of the previous year.

The U.S. states with the highest average internet connection speed include Delaware, District of Columbia and Utah, with first-ranking D.C. having an average connection speed of some 28.1 Mbps as of the first quarter of 2017.

As of the same period, 83 percent of internet users in South Korea enjoyed a connection speed of over 10 Mbps, which is classed as high broadband connectivity. Next in the 10 Mbps broadband adoption rate ranking are Switzerland and the Singapore with 73 percent of high broadband connectivity each. Both Switzerland and Singapore's relatively small size combined with their wealth are a significant factor in terms of telecommunications infrastructure upgrades.

Up until the beginning of 2014, average connection speeds worldwide were under 4 Mbps and by the fourth quarter of 2016, global connection speed averaged at 7 Mbps.

As of February 2025, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates ed the ranking of countries with the highest internet penetration rate, all recording 99 percent. The worldwide internet penetration rate as of October 2024 was 67.5 percent. Most connected regions According to the most recent observations, Northern Europe ranked first among global regions by internet penetration rate. The share of the population accessing the internet in this region was over 97 percent. Northern America ranked second, followed by Western Europe. Overall, the internet reach was higher than 80 percent across all European regions, as well as Northern and Southern parts of America. Unconnected populations Despite having the biggest online audiences worldwide, India and China are also the markets with the highest number of individuals not connected to the web. Regarding the share of population without internet access in worldwide markets, North Korea ranks first, as the internet in the country remains blocked for most of the general public as of April 2024. Central African Republic had 89.4 percent of its population unconnected, followed by Burundi, with 88.7 percent.

An analysis of average internet speeds across U.S. states in 2023, highlighting the fastest and slowest regions.

As of February 2025, India was the country with the largest offline population worldwide. The South Asian country had over 651 million people without internet connection. China ranked second, with around 311.9 million people not connected to the internet. Despite these large shares of the disconnected population in these countries, China and India ranked first and second, respectively, as countries with the highest number of internet users worldwide. Internet access in Africa In 2023, Africa lagged behind other global regions regarding internet penetration rate, as only 37 percent of the continent’s population accessed the web. In contrast, around 91 percent of Europe’s population were internet users. This is heavily influenced by the infrastructure development in the region. However, some improvements are forecasted, as by 2028, the internet penetration rate in Africa will be at an estimated 48.15 percent. Global internet access challenges: disruptions and restrictions Government internet shutdowns around the world are another challenge for internet access. Between 2015 and the first half of 2023, 172 local internet connection disruptions occurred due to protests globally. Moreover, according to a 2023report on internet freedom, almost four out of ten global internet users were deprived of essential freedoms on online platforms. In 2023, 76 new restrictions on internet usage were implemented worldwide. Asia led in imposing these restrictions, accounting for approximately 55 cases across various countries in the region.

This dataset provides values for INTERNET SPEED reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.

The statistic shows the average download speed of broadband internet in Caribbean countries as of June 2023, measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). In that period of time, the Cayman Islands had the highest broadband internet speed in the Caribbean, with an average download speed of over 125 Mbps.

It comes as no surprise that the largest social network in Singapore is the messenger app WhatsApp and the social media giant Facebook. With Singapore home to one of the fastest internet connection speed in the world, the convenience of using these social networks on a daily basis has driven the growth of online content.

There are over 5.3 million social media users in Singapore

As of 2023, Singapore’s population has reached over six million people. These are, however, on an island with an area of only 719.9 square kilometer. The high technological standard has led to the internet penetration being extraordinarily high compared to other Southeast Asian countries. A high Internet penetration rate is usually a first indication that social media has a great importance for the country too. In this case the general number of social media users amounted to 5.08 million people, reaching 84.7 percent of the population. While WhatsApp is still the most popular social media channel in Singapore, it seems like Facebook is currently losing their younger users. Young Singaporean social media users would instead be flocking to Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok.

South Korea topped a 2025 ranking of 5G download speeds with an average speed of 435 Mbps, far ahead of second-placed Bulgaria at just short of 199 Mbps. The global telecommunications industry is investing heavily in 5G infrastructure to meet the surging demand for faster and more reliable mobile connections. Global 5G expansion and adoption The rollout of 5G networks is accelerating worldwide, with an estimated 2.27 billion 5G mobile subscriptions in 2024. This figure is expected to reach nearly 5.65 billion by the end of the decade, surpassing 4G as the dominant mobile network technology. However, adoption rates vary significantly across regions, with North America leading at almost 97 percent population coverage in 2023, followed by East Asia and the Pacific at around 73 percent. Impact on data consumption and connectivity The adoption of 5G is accompanying substantial growth in mobile data consumption, with monthly traffic forecast to exceed 466 exabytes by the end of the decade. This surge in data traffic is being driven by shifting consumption habits, including the use of data intensive artificial intelligence services, cloud technology, and content streaming.

Ofcom's annual reports on the UK’s fixed broadband coverage, mobile and wifi network coverage, digital television, digital radio and internet infrastructure. Please see our terms of use for our licence conditions, and please refer to the Ofcom website to see the pdf 'About this data' documents.

High quality, widespread communications, fixed and mobile, are an engine of our economy and the pulse of our society. They are not nice-to-haves, but essential enablers of our working and social lives. As businesses and consumers drive an ever-increasing demand for communications, the infrastructure that serves them must keep pace with their demands and needs.

One of Ofcom’s roles is to make sure that the UK has the communications infrastructure it requires. This means making services available where people live and work; call connections being clear and robust; and data being down- and up-loaded at speeds that deliver a good experience. Ofcom is also responsible for providing clear, accurate, easy-to-use information. This equips businesses and consumers to make informed decisions about the services that can serve them best.

The Connected Nations Report (previously called the Infrastructure Report) charts the UK’s evolving communications infrastructure, and our progress towards becoming genuinely connected nations.

Where we can, we have made the data underlying this year’s report available for download. Please see our terms of use for our licence conditions. If you have any questions or feedback on the data we have made available, please contact us at open.data@ofcom.org.uk.

The statistic presents the average download speed of broadband internet in Latin American countries from July 2023 to June 2024 measured in Megabits per second (Mbps). In that period of time, Uruguay presented the highest broadband internet speed in Latin America, with an average download speed of over 111 Mbps.

The market for Internet Access Points (IAPs) is projected to grow from USD XX million in 2025 to USD XX million by 2033, at a CAGR of XX%. The market growth is attributed to the increasing demand for high-speed internet connectivity, the proliferation of connected devices, and the growing adoption of cloud-based applications. The Asia Pacific region is expected to account for the largest share of the IAP market due to the presence of a large number of developing countries with a growing middle class. The North American market is also expected to witness significant growth due to the high demand for advanced network infrastructure and the presence of major technology companies. Key players in the IAP market include Siemens, Advantech, Cambridge Industries Group, Huawei Technologies, Extreme Networks, Juniper Networks, NETGEAR, Teldat, Shenzhen TG-NET, and Linksys Holdings.

Within the Asia Pacific region, South Korea had the highest average IPv4 internet connection speed at 28.6 megabits per second (Mbps). Considering this, it comes as no surprise that South Korea also had the highest internet penetration rate and the highest 4G download speed  across Asia. This was due to governmental efforts to facilitate the expansion and improvement of internet. 

Current state of internet in Asia 

Although Singapore had the third-fastest average IPv4 connection speed as of 2017, in 2018, it nonetheless had the fastest internet overall with a mean download speed of 60.39 Mbps, surpassing larger countries such as the U.S. and Germany.  Although India and the Philippines had the lowest average internet connection speeds, its year-on-year growth was higher than the leading countries with respectively 87% and 57%. In the Philippines, the government carried out a National Broadband Plan (NBP) to increase nationwide internet access. Similarly, the Indian government had also proposed a national broadband network to connect all cities and villages. 

Internet connection speed explained 

Megabits per second (Mbps) refer to the speed with which information can be downloaded or uploaded from and to the internet. For the Federal Communications Commission, a sufficient broadband internet connection requires a minimum of 25 Mbps for downloads and 3 Mbps for uploads. In the world of internet, connection speeds above 20 Mbps enable swift web surfing, HD content streaming as well as fast downloads. 

Ubiquitous access for citizens and companies to very high speed Internet is key for developing the national economy. Hence, the national strategy for very high-speed networks was elaborated in 2010 [http://www.gouvernement.lu/3938123/2010-strategie-ultrahaut-debit.pdf]. The general objective of the strategy is to position the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg among the leading broadband countries and to enable citizens, companies and public players to reap the associated socio-economic benefits. The strategy is in line with Europe 2020, a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, as well as the Digital Agenda for Europe (http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda). In the context of the Digital Agenda, the European Commission encourages broadband mapping exercises (http://www.broadbandmapping.eu/). The broadband mapping of municipalities indicates the percentage of households that can get fix access to very high-speed Internet, independent of the technology (copper cable, coax cable, optical fibre). The map is based on data provided on a voluntary basis by certain network providers and on estimations based on such data. Speeds are advertised speeds and may vary from actual speeds. Link to the data Link to the PDF map

As of November 2024, the median download speed of mobile internet in South Korea was about 148.34 Mbps, the highest in the Asia-Pacific region. Comparatively, the median download speed of mobile internet in Pakistan was approximately 20.89 Mbps.

The statistic shows the countries with the largest share of high broadband connectivity during the first quarter of 2017. During that quarter, it was found that 85 percent of internet connections in South Korea averaged a connection speed of 10 Mbps or more, placing the country also in first place in a global ranking of highest average internet speeds. The global high broadband connectivity rate is 45 percent.

The demand for high-speed internet in Europe is rising due to the increase in data-intensive services, like streaming platforms. Telecommunications companies have invested heavily in fibre optic technology to upgrade their infrastructures. Fibre optic cables are essential for expanding the 5G network as they connect numerous small base stations and enable the required data transfer rates. Over the five years through 2024, the industry's revenue is expected to contract at an annual rate of 1.8% to €3.1 billion. Although Europe's fibre optic cable industry is fairly small, it is becoming increasingly important for the continent's digital transformation. In addition to internet use, these cables are used in the automotive industry, sensor technology and robotics. The industry’s revenue is expected to decrease by 0.6% in 2024. The development of fibre optic networks varies from country to country in Europe. In 2022, fibre optic penetration in Germany was around 26%, while the UK reported a penetration rate of 33% at the beginning of 2022. In contrast, Spain (89%), Portugal (87%) and Sweden (84%) had a much higher penetration rate at the end of 2021. In Sweden, telecommunication companies have rejected transitional technologies like vectoring, which has led to a faster roll-out of fibre networks. This strategic decision has avoided delays in network roll-out in Sweden that have occurred in other countries. Over the five years through 2029, the industry's revenue is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.6% to €4.3 billion. Western Europe isn’t particularly attractive for the production of fibre optic cables due to the low sales volume, high labour costs and market dominance by subsidiaries of international corporations. However, several Western European countries are actively investing in and expanding their fibre optic infrastructure. The UK and Germany have launched initiatives to achieve nationwide gigabit broadband coverage by 2030. Italy and France have drawn up ambitious plans and made substantial funds available to expand their broadband networks to ultra-fast speeds. Spain is also driving forward its fibre infrastructure with significant investment and legislative support to promote competition and digitisation.

The demand for high-speed internet in Europe is rising due to the increase in data-intensive services, like streaming platforms. Telecommunications companies have invested heavily in fibre optic technology to upgrade their infrastructures. Fibre optic cables are essential for expanding the 5G network as they connect numerous small base stations and enable the required data transfer rates. Over the five years through 2024, the industry's revenue is expected to contract at an annual rate of 1.8% to €3.1 billion. Although Europe's fibre optic cable industry is fairly small, it is becoming increasingly important for the continent's digital transformation. In addition to internet use, these cables are used in the automotive industry, sensor technology and robotics. The industry’s revenue is expected to decrease by 0.6% in 2024. The development of fibre optic networks varies from country to country in Europe. In 2022, fibre optic penetration in Germany was around 26%, while the UK reported a penetration rate of 33% at the beginning of 2022. In contrast, Spain (89%), Portugal (87%) and Sweden (84%) had a much higher penetration rate at the end of 2021. In Sweden, telecommunication companies have rejected transitional technologies like vectoring, which has led to a faster roll-out of fibre networks. This strategic decision has avoided delays in network roll-out in Sweden that have occurred in other countries. Over the five years through 2029, the industry's revenue is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6.6% to €4.3 billion. Western Europe isn’t particularly attractive for the production of fibre optic cables due to the low sales volume, high labour costs and market dominance by subsidiaries of international corporations. However, several Western European countries are actively investing in and expanding their fibre optic infrastructure. The UK and Germany have launched initiatives to achieve nationwide gigabit broadband coverage by 2030. Italy and France have drawn up ambitious plans and made substantial funds available to expand their broadband networks to ultra-fast speeds. Spain is also driving forward its fibre infrastructure with significant investment and legislative support to promote competition and digitisation.

Romania achieved the best result in the fixed broadband internet speed ranking of all Central and Eastern European countries. Data downloading in Romania amounted to 211.66 Mbps while uploading 138.74 Mbps as of May 2024. Other countries with fast mobile internet were Hungary and Poland. Moldova and Lithuania were leaders in the ranking of the lowest ping speed among other countries in the CEE region.