July 8, 2015
Earlier today, the Media Institute released its “Net Vitality Index In Detail” report, which is a data-heavy companion to its report from April this year called “Net Vitality: Identifying the Top-Tier Global Broadband Internet Ecosystem Leaders.” For those who like to wonk out on broadband stats — which we definitely do — both reports are worth digging into. From the press release accompanying the new report:
Harvard Law School faculty member and Media Institute Global Internet Freedom Advisory Council member Stuart N. Brotman authored both reports. He compiled the detailed data released today for the benefit of scholars, researchers, and policymakers who desire an in-depth look at the metrics used in assessing the broadband Internet ecosystem capabilities of countries around the world.
Based on five years of research, the Net Vitality Index is the first holistic analysis of the global broadband Internet ecosystem, identifying the United States, South Korea, Japan, United Kingdom, and France as the top-tier leaders. Unlike the one-dimensional rankings that serve as the basis of most broadband comparative studies, Brotman’s composite analysis takes into account 52 indices developed independently to evaluate countries on an apples-to-apples basis. Overarching categories assessed encompass applications and content, devices, networks, and macroeconomic factors.
The new detailed report is a treasure trove of data. Some highlights:
• While Windows 7 still dominates when it comes to personal computer operating systems, both Android and Apple’s iOS rank in the top 5 — which is pretty incredible given both operating systems are less than a decade old.
• Surprisingly, at 56.4%, the United States ranks 13th when it comes to smartphone penetration. The leader? The United Arab Emirates at 73.8% penetration.
• The United States continues to domination when it comes to investment in telecommunications, more than doubling the dollars invested by China over the same time period.
• When it comes to mobile app development, the United States is the leader of the world, with the vast majority of apps dominating the charts globally having been developed by U.S. companies.
• Nine of the top 10 digital startups globally are based in the United States.