Lok Sabha Question No. 1594 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Internet Speed
Ministry: COMMUNICATIONS
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1594 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27 TH      DECEMBER, 2017

## INTERNET SPEED

1594. SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:

(a) the  average  broadband connection speed of the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise;

- (b) whether the Government is aware of the average broadband connection speed across the world and if so, the details thereof, country-wise; and
- (c) the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  the  said  broadband  speed  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) As  per  Akamai's  (an  international  agency)  Quarter1,  2017  report  on  'The  State  of Internet', India has an average internet connection speed of 6.5 Mbps. India's average internet speed  was  of  3.5  Mbps  as  per  Akamai's  Quarter1,  2016  report,  2.3  Mbps  as  per  Akamai's Quarter1,  2015  report  and  1.7  Mbps  as  per  Akamai's  Quarter1,  2014  report.  However, State/UT-wise details of average broadband speed in the Country are not available.

- (b) Country-wise details of average internet connection speed of 74 countries of the world as available in Akamai Quarter1, 2017 report are enclosed as Annexure.
- (c) The telecom networks are being upgraded continuously in order to improve the internet speed in the country.

In order to further improve internet/ broadband facilities in rural areas, Government has planned  the  BharatNet  project  to  provide  100  Mbps  broadband  connectivity  to   all  Gram Panchayats (approx. 2.5 lakh) in the country by using an optimal mix of underground fibre, fibre over  power  lines,  radio  and  satellite  media.  Under  first  phase  of  the  project,  1  lakh  Gram Panchayats  (GPs)  are  to  be  connected.  Under  Phase-II,  to  be  completed  by  March  2019, connectivity will be provided to remaining 1.5 lakh GPs.

Also,  Government  has  allocated  965  Megahertz  spectrum  through  auction  in  October 2016 to various telecom service providers for access services. In order to provide high speed internet  services  in  the  country,  3G/4G  networks  are  being  rolled  out  progressively  by  the telecom service providers.

## Annexure

## Average Internet Connection Speed of 74 Countries as per Akamai Quarter1, 2017 report

|   Sl. No. | Name of Country   |   Average Internet Speed (In Mbps) |
|-----------|-------------------|------------------------------------|
|         1 | South Korea       |                               28.6 |
|         2 | Norway            |                               23.5 |
|         3 | Sweden            |                               22.5 |
|         4 | Hong Kong         |                               21.9 |
|         5 | Switzerland       |                               21.7 |
|         6 | Finland           |                               20.5 |
|         7 | Singapore         |                               20.3 |
|         8 | Japan             |                               20.2 |
|         9 | Denmark           |                               20.1 |
|        10 | United States     |                               18.7 |
|        11 | Netherlands       |                               17.4 |
|        12 | Romania           |                               17   |
|        13 | Czech Republic    |                               16.9 |
|        14 | United Kingdom    |                               16.9 |
|        15 | Taiwan            |                               16.9 |
|        16 | Latvia            |                               16.6 |
|        17 | Belgium           |                               16.3 |
|        18 | Canada            |                               16.2 |
|        19 | Thailand          |                               16   |
|        20 | Ireland           |                               15.6 |
|        21 | Bulgaria          |                               15.5 |
|        22 | Spain             |                               15.5 |
|        23 | Germany           |                               15.3 |
|        24 | Hungary           |                               14.8 |
|        25 | New Zealand       |                               14.7 |
|        26 | Lithuania         |                               14.6 |
|        27 | Austria           |                               14.1 |
|        28 | Qatar             |                               13.7 |
|        29 | Israel            |                               13.7 |
|        30 | Slovenia          |                               13.7 |
|        31 | Slovakia          |                               13   |
|        32 | Portugal          |                               12.9 |
|        33 | Malta             |                               12.8 |
|        34 | Poland            |                               12.6 |
|        35 | Kenya             |                               12.2 |
|        36 | Russia            |                               11.8 |
|        37 | Luxembourg        |                               11.6 |
|        38 | Estonia           |                               11.6 |

|   Sl. No. | Name of Country      |   Average Internet Speed (In Mbps) |
|-----------|----------------------|------------------------------------|
|        39 | Australia            |                               11.1 |
|        40 | France               |                               10.8 |
|        41 | Uruguay              |                                9.5 |
|        42 | Vietnam              |                                9.5 |
|        43 | Chile                |                                9.3 |
|        44 | Italy                |                                9.2 |
|        45 | Malaysia             |                                8.9 |
|        46 | Croatia              |                                8.6 |
|        47 | United Arab Emirates |                                8.6 |
|        48 | Sri Lanka            |                                8.5 |
|        59 | Kuwait               |                                7.9 |
|        50 | Greece               |                                7.9 |
|        51 | China                |                                7.6 |
|        52 | Turkey               |                                7.6 |
|        53 | Mexico               |                                7.5 |
|        54 | Indonesia            |                                7.2 |
|        55 | Cyprus               |                                6.9 |
|        56 | Brazil               |                                6.8 |
|        57 | South Africa         |                                6.7 |
|        58 | Saudi Arabia         |                                6.7 |
|        59 | India                |                                6.5 |
|        60 | Argentina            |                                6.3 |
|        61 | Peru                 |                                6.2 |
|        62 | Ecuador              |                                6.2 |
|        63 | Panama               |                                5.9 |
|        64 | Colombia             |                                5.5 |
|        65 | Philippines          |                                5.5 |
|        66 | Morocco              |                                5.2 |
|        67 | Iran                 |                                4.7 |
|        68 | Costa Rica           |                                4.1 |
|        69 | Nigeria              |                                3.9 |
|        70 | Namibia              |                                2.9 |
|        71 | Bolivia              |                                2.7 |
|        72 | Egypt                |                                2   |
|        73 | Venezuela            |                                1.8 |
|        74 | Paraguay             |                                1.4 |

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