NZ improving with broadband uptake

Some modest but useful improvements in broadband uptake from the OECD.

The strongest per-capita subscriber growth over the year comes from Denmark, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and Ireland. Each country added more than 5.8 subscribers per 100 inhabitants during the past year.

Some people think my constant going on about fibre to the home is too futuristic. Well FTTH makes up 7% of all broadband connections in the OECD.

NZ’s broadband rate per 100 people is now 14.0 and we move from 22nd to 21st. A year ago it was 8.1 so a fairly healthy 5.9 increase compared to an OECD average increase of 3.4.

Also pleasing to see a preview of what John Key will be saying at his first Party Regional Conference to include:

A key plank of its economic policies will be increasing the speed and coverage of broadband, which Mr Key believes could be crucial for New Zealand business due to its geographical isolation.

It is great to have both major parties not seeing broadband as an IT issue but an infrastructure and economic development issue.