The latest Akamai report on global broadband speeds and rankings is out – based on Q4 2011 research. The news isn’t great for the US, it’s even worse for Minnesota. Here’s a partial list of what Akamai tracks:
Average Broadband Connection Speeds – The US comes in 13. Japan dominates the list of top global cities, especially in the top 50 cities. At number 51, Boston is the top US city listed. There are 22 US cities listed; none were in Minnesota.
Average Peak Connection Speeds – The US comes in 10. Japan and South Korea dominate the top city listings. North Bergen, NJ ranks top (for US city) at 24. The list includes 30 US cities in the top 100; none are in Minnesota.
Broadband Connectivity (broadband adoption) – The US comes in 12 for connectivity over 5 Mbps; we rank at 35 for connectivity over 2 Mbps. (The Isle of Man comes in number 1 with 97 percent!)
Narrowband Connectivity – The US comes in 27 for narrowband connectivity.
The report looks at global ranking and ranking by geography. Minnesota is not listed – not once. In the past we have occasionally ranked. Minnesota Broadband buffs will know that part of the Minnesota Broadband Bill was an aspiration to be a national and world broadband leader…
It is a goal of the state that by 2015 and thereafter, the state be in:
(1) the top five states of the United States for broadband speed universally accessible to residents and businesses;
(2) the top five states for broadband access; and
(3) the top 15 when compared to countries globally for broadband penetration.
We’re not getting closer to that goal.
