The FCC recently released their inaugural International Broadband Data Report. It’s concise snapshot of where broadband stands in a wide range of countries. I’ve pulled out the bare bones facts – access, subscriptions, future speeds goals and brief notes on their national strategies – but the report includes a great deal more – including detailed information on providers in each country and their offerings, status of regulations and competition, as well as topography. (Someone at the Minnesota Broadband Advisory Task Force last week mentioned the need to look at topography when comparing International broadband stats!)

The one thing the report doesn’t include is US numbers! So I’ve added US numbers from the Strategy Analytics: Global Household Broadband Penetration Rankings (2008) as found in the Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Broadband Recommendations (pg 43).

	% Households with broadband[i]	Subscriptions per 100 people	Speed Goal	National Strategy
Australia	52	25	100 Mbps to 90% by 2018 12 Mbps to remaining 10%	In 2009, created a company to create national, wholesale FTTP.
Austria	54	22		In 2008, assessed gaps and opportunities.
Belgium	60	38		In 2009, plans for mapping, regulation, tax incentives, public-private partnerships
Bulgaria	15	28		In 2009, plan to invest in smaller towns and build public-private partnerships
Canada	88	30		In 2009, invested in developing plan for rural areas and invested in rural projects
Chile	28	8		In 2008, invest government subsidies to reach rural areas.
Cyprus	33	12	Ubiquity	Focusing on providing terrestrial wireless or satellite connections to rural communities
Czech Republic	36	18	50% adoption by 2010
Denmark	74	37	512 kbps to all by 2010	In 2001, decided on a market-based approach, ensuring that regulations are technology-neutral and using egovernment services as “drivers” to broadband.
Estonia	54	24	Ubiquity by 2015	Create a 4,125 mile fiber-optic cable network offering speeds of up to 100 Mbps with a public-private partnership.
Finland	66	30	1 Mbps to all by 2010 100 Mbps to all by 2015	In 2009, made broadband connectivity a fundamental right for every person in the country
France	57	29	Ubiquity by 2010	In 2008, deputized “universal broadband providers” to promote ubiquity and public-private FTTP.
Germany	55	29	1 Mbps to all by 2010 50 Mbps to 75% by 2014	In 2009, plan to offer short and long term financial incentives to providers. Also reallocating spectrum.
Greece	22	17		In 2009, public-private partnership to build a national fiber-optic network to Athens and 50 other cities with speeds of up to 100 Mbps for nearly 650,000 users by the end of 2010 and to be expanded to over 2 million households over the next seven years
Hong Kong	70	28		Starting in1998, vision of building on Hong Kong’s position as a “world digital city.”
Hungary	42	17		In 2005, spread of broadband communication in the private and public sectors.
Iceland	83	33		In 2004, set targets for e-government, e-business, education, environment, security, health care and social services
Ireland	43[1]	21		In 2009, creates public-private partnership to provide to unserved areas  1.2 Mbps and a minimum upload speed of 200 kpbs
Italy	31	20	2 Mbps for all by 2010	In 2006, announced public-private partnership plan.
Japan	58	24		In 2006, released roadmap for a comprehensive review of its competition rules.
Korea	73	32	1 Gbps for all by 2012	In 2006, had plan for ubiquitous 1 Mbps, upgraded to 1 Gbps in 2009.
Latvia	40	6		In 2005, 2005, started using state and EU to cover up to 35% of the total costs for the expansion of broadband in rural areas.
Lithuania	43	18	Broadband to 98% of SME by 2010	In 2002, planned a non-profit organization, to develop rural broadband access and training
Luxembourg	61	31
Malta	55	24	Broadband to 80 percent by 2010	In 2008, goals included access, 75% digital literacy and 101 broadband access centers throughout Malta.
Netherlands	74	38		In 2002, established  independent national platform for the provision of aid and incentives to the social sectors for the “better and smarter” use of broadband.
Norway	73	35
Poland	38	11	Broadband to 90% by 2013 Broadband to all businesses by 2013	In 2009, announced plans to direct $397 million for broadband expansion
Portugal	39	17		In 2009, announced an US$1.1 billion credit line for the rollout of next-generation broadband networks in the country.
Romania	13	12		In 2009, called for the installation of 500 hotspots all over the country.
Singapore	86	22	1 Gbps to all by 2012	In 2006, began deploying a seamless next generation broadband network with both a wireline and a wireless part.
Slovakia	35	13		In 2004, set broadband goals including legislative changes, efficient use of spectrum, completing a digital television transition by 2012
Slovenia	50	21		In 2007, committed the government of Slovenia to an investment of $20.4 million in 2009
Spain	45	21	1 Mbps to all by 2011	In 2009, announced that Spanish citizens will have a legal right starting in 2011 to buy broadband Internet service of at least 1 Mbps at a regulated price wherever they live.
Sweden	71	36	100 Mbps to 40% by 2015 100 Mbps to all by 2020
Taiwan	66	22	Ubiquity	In 2005, offered computer equipment and Internet access to households in rural and mountainous areas and established “digital opportunity centers” in 168 rural townships
United Kingdom	62	29	2 Mbps to all by 2012.	Ofcom has also worked to encourage investment and competition in “super-fast broadband.
United States	60		100 Mbps (50 Mbps up) to 100 million homes by 2020 4 Mbps to all by 2020

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[1] Percent of broadband by household wasn’t available for Ireland; this rate is actually access per 100 people.

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[i]The report seems to recognize the recent upgraded definition of broadband as actual download (i.e., to the customer) speeds of at least 4 Mbps and actual upload (i.e., from the customer) speeds of at least 1 Mbps.