In the 2013 edition of the State of Broadband Report by the UN’s Broadband Commission for Digital Development, the Philippines ranked 110th in fixed broadband penetration worldwide.
For mobile broadband adoption, the Philippines placed even a notch lower at 111st, just ahead of African nations Senegal, Malawi, and Rwanda.
In the area of “percentage of households with Internet among developing countries”, the Philippines performed better at 56th place.
But, in terms of “percentage of individuals using the Internet,” the country was at dismal 100th position. Among developing countries, however, the country claimed the 54th spot.
The report nonetheless noted the country’s national digital strategy that was launched in 2011.
Fixed broadband penetration, worldwide, per 100 inhabitants, 2012
Mobile broadband penetration, worldwide, per 100 inhabitants, 2012
Percentage of households with Internet, developing countries, 2012
Percentage of Individuals using the Internet, worldwide, 2012
Percentage of Individuals using the Internet, developing countries, 2012
Overall, the report revealed that mobile broadband subscriptions, which allow users to access the Web via smartphones, tablets and WiFi-connected laptops, are growing at a rate of 30 percent per year.
By the end of 2013 there will be more than three times as many mobile broadband connections as there are conventional fixed broadband subscriptions, it said.
South Korea continues to have the world’s highest household broadband penetration at over 97 percent. Switzerland leads the world in fixed broadband subscriptions per capita, at over 40 percent.
By comparison, the US ranks 24th in terms of household broadband penetration, and 20th in the world for fixed broadband subscriptions per capita, just behind Finland and ahead of Japan.
In terms of Internet use, there are now more than 70 countries where over 50 percent of the population is online. The top ten countries for Internet use are all located in Europe, with the exception of New Zealand (8th) and Qatar (10th).
“While more and more people are coming online, over 90 percent of people in the world’s 49 Least Developed Countries remain totally unconnected. Internet – and particularly broadband Internet – has become a key tool for social and economic development, and needs to be prioritized, even in the world’s poorest nations,” said ITU secretary-general Hamadoun I. Touré.
