Internet Speed Matters, Says Speed Matters

By Editor Wireless and Mobile News on August 12, 2008 1:41 PM

Speed Matters released its second annual state-by-state Internet speed report, and the results show the U.S. still has a long way to go to catch up with the rest of the world.

The report found the average U.S. Internet speed was 2.3 megabits per second (mbps), representing a minimal gain of 0.4 mbps over last year's average speed. At this rate, it will take us more than a hundred years to catch up to Japan, where average speeds are estimated at 63 mbps.

But as CWA President Larry Cohen said, Americans can't wait that long:

"This isn't about how fast someone can download a full-length movie. Speed matters to our economy and our ability to remain competitive in a global marketplace. Rural development, telemedicine and distance learning all rely on truly high-speed, universal networks."

The new report is based on data from nearly 230,000 Internet users who took the Speed Matters Speed Test -- almost three times the number of tests taken for last year's inaugural state-by-state report. The fastest states were Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, and Massachusetts, while the slowest speeds were in rural states: Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and Alaska.

This shows the need for policies that help boost high speed Internet access in all parts of the U.S., and particularly in remote and lightly populated areas.