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1. DSL:
a. Includes all DSL lines offering Internet connectivity which are capable of download speeds of at least 256 kbit/s
b. The DSL line is excluded if it is not used for Internet connectivity (e.g. leased lines)
2. Cable:
a. Includes all cable modem subscribers at download speeds greater than 256 kbit/s
3. Fiber
a. Includes all fibre-to-the-premises (e.g. house, apartment) subscribers at download speeds greater than 256 kbit/s
b. Includes all fibre-to-the-building subscribers (e.g. Apartment LAN) using fibre-to-the-building but Ethernet to end-users. NOTE: This counts only the number of actual subscribers to the provider, not end users.
4. Other
a. Wireless (includes only connections with speeds faster than 256 kbit/s to end users)
i. Includes fixed wireless technologies
1. Satellite
2. LMDS
3. MMDS
4. WiMAX (fixed)
5. Other fixed-wireless transport technologies
ii. Does not include
1. 3G mobile technologies
2. Wi-Fi
3. Exceptions: included in rare case that Wi-Fi/3G is the transport mechanism of a fixed- wireless provider (e.g. in rural UK, CZ)
b. Wired (only connections with speeds faster than 256 kbit/s to end users)
i. BPL: Includes all broadband over powerline subscribers with download speeds greater than 256 kbit/s
Notes:
All data are supplied by member governments unless otherwise noted. Data are provided to member governments for verification before publication.
All statistical country comparisons should be undertaken with caution and this advice similarly applies to broadband statistics. There is a breadth of market, regulatory and geographic factors which help determine penetration rates, prices, and speeds. Therefore, it is important that policy makers examine a wide range of broadband indicators when considering key policy decisions.
Broadband subscription penetration rankings tell nothing of the prices that users pay, the advertised speeds of connections, or whether there are restrictive bit/data caps on those lines. Countries doing well in one measure may be weaker in another.
It would also be inappropriate to use small movements within statistics such as the broadband rankings to justify policy success or lack thereof. Small movements in rankings can be the result of improved population estimates, more reliable data sources or seasonal adjustments.
Therefore, comparisons should focus why some countries are at the end, middle or near the top of one or more indicators. Another valid comparison would be highlighting countries which seem to exhibit a trend over an extended period of time.
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