Global average connection speed grows 2.3% in Q3

The global average connection speed increased 2.3% sequentially and 21% year on year to 6.3 Mbps in the third quarter of 2016, Akamai’s latest State of the Internet report shows.

South Korea maintained its lead with the highest average connection speed at 26.3 Mbps in the third quarter, but this was down from 27Mbps in Q2, which was itself down 7.2% compared to the first quarter.

The global average peak connection speed increased 3.4% sequentially and 16% year-on-year to 37.2 Mbps in the third quarter, rising 16% year over year. Singapore continued to have the highest average peak connection speed, at 162 Mbps in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, global 10 Mbps broadband adoption rose 5.4% quarter over quarter, and 15 Mbps and 25 Mbps broadband adoption rates increased 6.5% and 5.3%, respectively.

Asia-Pacific region continued to lead the world in average peak connection speeds in the third quarter. Four of the Top 10 countries in average peak connection speeds were from the region.

Singapore, Hong Kong and South Korea all had average peak connection speeds above 100 Mbps again, with Indonesia close behind at 99.3 Mbps.

Eleven of the 14 qualifying surveyed Asia Pacific countries/regions posted increases in 15 Mbps adoption, ranging from 3.7% in Singapore to 94% in Vietnam.

Global average mobile connection speeds meanwhile ranged from a high of 23.7 Mbps in the United Kingdom to a low of 2.2 Mbps in Venezuela.

“The holiday season serves as one of the true tests of internet connectivity as consumers activate slews of connected devices at the same time and more families are at home collectively pushing their broadband capabilities to the limit,” said David Belson, editor of the State of the Internet Report.

“The good news is those limits are getting higher as we have continued to observe positive long-term trends in both average and average peak connection speeds around the world. While ‘batteries not included’ may still cause unwelcome surprises, we’re optimistic that connection speeds won’t spoil the holidays this year.”