State of the Internet Speeds Up in 3Q12
What is the fastest state in the U.S?
Though it doesn't always grow in a straight line, Internet speeds are growing year over year. The third quarter 2012 State of the Internet report from Akamai was recently released, showing that once again there is no slowing down the Internet.
For the third quarter of 2012, the Global Average Peak connection speed was reported at 15.9 Mbps. which is a 36 % year-over-year gain. On a sequential basis, average peak connection speeds actually declined by 1.4 percent in the third quarter from the second quarter. The highest peak speed globally was reported in Hong Kong at 54 Mbps.
The global average connection speed during the third quarter was 2.8 Mbps, for 11 percent year-over-year growth. Though as was the case with peak connection speed, there was a sequential decline from the second to the third quarter of 7 percent.
While globally Akamai reported sequential declines and year-over-year gains for average connection speeds, the story in the U.S. is different. In the third quarter of 2012, the average broadband speed in the U.S was 7.2 Mbps, up by 20 percent year-over-year and 8.8 percent over the second quarter.
Average peak connection speed in the U.S came in at 29.6 Mbps for a 25 percent year-over-year gains and 9.3 percent on a sequential basis.
High Broadband
Akamai's report also takes note of high-broadband connectivity, that is connectivity at speeds of 10 Mbps or higher. On a global basis during the third quarter, 11 percent of all connections were reported to be at 10 Mbps or higher for a 22 percent year over year gain.
The penetration of high-broadband in the U.S. came in at 18 percent, which is a dramatic 73 percent year-over-year increase.
Fastest State in the U.S
Depending on how you look at the numbers, the fastest state (or area) in the U.S. was either Delaware or the District of Columbia. Delaware had an average connection speed of 10.9 Mbps, narrowly edging out the District of Columbia at 10.7 Mbps. The results flip for peak connection speed with the District of Columbia coming in first at 42.3 Mbps and Delaware in second at 39.3 Mbps.
In terms of high-broadband penetration of speed above 10 Mbps, New Hampshire and Vermont both came in at 35 percent. The District of Columbia placed third at 34 percent followed by Delaware in fourth at 32 percent.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at InternetNews.com, the news service of the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.
