India slips in global rankings on broadband penetration

India haxs slipped in global rankings on broadband penetration but had made some progress in the percentage of individuals using internet in the country, according to a UN report. 

The UN Broadband Commission released The State of Broadband report yesterday just ahead of the forthcoming Sustainable Development Goals Summit and the parallel meeting of the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development on 26 September.

According to the report, 57 per cent of the world's people remained offline and unable to take advantage of the enormous economic and social benefits the internet had to offer.

India came in at 131 out of 189 countries on fixed-broadband subscriptions in 2014, falling from the 125th rank a year before.

India stood at 155 active mobile-broadband subscriptions, a significant drop from the 113th rank in 2013.

India was placed 136th in individuals using the internet in 2014, with 18 per cent individuals using the net, an improvement over the 142nd rank in 2013 when 15.1 per cent individuals used the internet.

India stood at No 80 among 133 developing countries on percentage of households with internet in 2014 with a 15.3 per cent penetration as against the 75th rank and 13 per cent penetration in 2013.

Pakistan was among the lowest-ranked countries in the world when it came to access of citizens to fast mobile internet services, indicating that the country was yet to take measures to achieve sustainable economic development on the back of information and communication technology.

The country stood at the 156th spot among the 192 member states according to the report

The data said 5.1 out of 100 fellow citizens had mobile broadband subscriptions.

Pakistan ranked 135 in fixed-broadband subscriptions per 100 capita, with only 1.1 of 100 enjoying broadband subscriptions in the country, according to the report.

Pakistan ranked 83 in internet availability to households, with 13.2 per cent of households having access to internet, while 13.8 per cent of individuals were using internet.

''The spread of information and communication technology and global interconnectedness has great potential to accelerate human progress and to develop knowledge societies,'' said the report.