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Broadband uptake shows global disparities
Thursday 2nd September 2010, by Daniel King
There needs to be more done to enable universal access to broadband, according to one organisation.
The International Telecommunication Union has highlighted "huge disparities" in the availability and affordability of broadband.
Its research found that in the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China) countries uptake is still below ten per cent.
Poorer countries have access levels below one per cent, with broadband costing more than 100 per cent of an average monthly income.
In comparison, three in ten people in Western Europe's richest countries have access.
Twenty-nine per cent of the UK's population have a broadband connection, which only costs 0.63 per cent of their monthly wage.
This is the lowest ratio in any developed country.
According to the findings, broadband in China is the most expensive, costing around seven per cent of monthly wages.
The Broadband Commission for Digital Development, which has commissioned the report, was created to highlight the importance of broadband for international growth.
According to the organisation, which counts Richard Branson as a member, broadband has "the same level of importance as roads and electricity networks".
The Commission drew attention to the role of electricity networks in enabling the emancipation of women, as well as industrialisation.
It has singled out the significance of universal broadband access for reaching Millennium Development Goals.
Categories: Broadband
