Isla McKetta | January 24, 2018

GOOOOAL: Which World Cup Finalist Scored the Fastest Internet in their Capital City?

Whether you call it soccer or football, everyone calls the World Cup fun. We couldn’t wait for the actual match-ups in June, so we decided to pit the qualifying countries against one another to see who has the fastest internet speeds in their capital cities. The results might surprise you.

Get ready to watch Russia best Brazil and Portugal defeat Iran; meanwhile, Argentina and Nigeria and Belgium and England are preparing for penalty shoot-outs.

Using data from Speedtest Intelligence for Q3-Q4 2017, we’ve calculated which capital cities of World Cup-qualifying countries have the fastest mobile and fixed broadband speeds. We also took a peek at the fastest carriers and internet service providers (ISPs) in each capital using Speed Score, a comprehensive metric that combines measures of internet performance at all levels.

Mobile winners

Iceland’s sixth place ranking for mobile download speed in the Speedtest Global Index^TM virtually assured that Reykjavík would come out at the top of the list of fastest World Cup contenders. Canberra represents Australia well with a second place finish for mobile download speeds among World Cup capitals. And Brussels, Belgium barely surpasses Bern, Switzerland for a third place finish.

**Mobile Internet Speeds**
Capitals of World Cup Qualifying Countries | Q3 – Q4 2017
Country	Capital City	Average Download (Mbps)	Average Upload (Mbps)
Iceland	Reykjavík	55.49	21.53
Australia	Canberra	44.24	12.60
Belgium	Brussels	42.52	16.74
Switzerland	Bern	42.02	17.52
South Korea	Seoul	41.85	14.15
Denmark	Copenhagen	41.78	18.29
Croatia	Zagreb	41.16	16.40
Sweden	Stockholm	40.12	12.63
Spain	Madrid	38.30	14.02
Portugal	Lisbon	30.60	11.39
Serbia	Belgrade	30.33	12.49
France	Paris	29.03	9.26
Poland	Warsaw	26.94	9.84
Germany	Berlin	25.83	9.51
England	London	25.09	11.49
Russia	Moscow	21.89	8.49
Japan	Tokyo	19.89	7.10
Uruguay	Montevideo	19.82	11.49
Mexico	Mexico City	19.11	11.51
Peru	Lima	18.33	12.90
Tunisia	Tunis	18.27	8.07
Brazil	Brasília	18.00	8.64
Morocco	Rabat	17.32	9.76
Colombia	Bogotá	16.87	9.50
Nigeria	Abuja	16.17	6.76
Iran	Tehran	15.05	7.04
Argentina	Buenos Aires	13.77	7.70
Egypt	Cairo	13.15	6.33
Panama	Panama City	12.89	8.45
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	12.28	8.88
Senegal	Dakar	8.85	3.81
Costa Rica	San José	5.97	3.33

Looking at the group draw, Group A fares the worst with 16th place Moscow, Russia being the capital city with the fastest mobile downloads in the group. In Group B, Spain comes out on top. Australia wins Group C, Iceland takes Group D, Switzerland leads Group E and South Korea has the fastest mobile download speed in Group F. Belgium finishes first in Group G and Poland prevails in Group H, despite a 13th place finish overall.

From a regional perspective, European capitals top the rankings with all 14 European World Cup capitals sitting in the top half of the list. Latin American, Middle Eastern and African cities fare worst. Asia’s two contenders are split with Seoul boasting the fifth fastest mobile download speed among World Cup capitals and Tokyo, Japan coming in 17th.

The fastest World Cup capital in Latin America (Montevideo, Uruguay) shows a 64.3% slower mobile download speed than Reykjavík. First place among African World Cup capitals, Rabat, Morocco is 68.8% slower than Reykjavík for mobile downloads. And Tehran, Iran, the fastest World Cup capital in the Middle East, is 72.9% slower than Reykjavík.

Fastest carriers

We also looked into which carriers were fastest in each of the 32 World Cup capital cities.

With Speed Scores ranging from 8.89 in Dakar, Senegal to 46.57 in Brussels, mobile carrier Orange was fastest in four cities and tied for fastest in one. Vodafone was fastest in both Lisbon, Portugal and Madrid, Spain with comparable Speed Scores in the two locations. The rest of the cities show the diversity of fastest carriers that you might expect from a worldwide competition.

**Fastest Carriers Speeds**
Capitals of World Cup Qualifying Countries | Q3 – Q4 2017
Country	Capital City	Fastest Carrier	Speed Score
Argentina	Buenos Aires	Personal	16.15
Australia	Canberra	Telstra	50.21
Belgium	Brussels	Orange	46.57
Brazil	Brasília	Claro	24.72
Colombia	Bogotá	Avantel	20.93
Costa Rica	San José	ICE	8.30
Croatia	Zagreb	Hrvatski Telekom	49.35
Denmark	Copenhagen	TDC / Telia	45.34 / 45.09
Egypt	Cairo	Orange	16.50
England	London	EE	36.83
France	Paris	Orange	33.15
Germany	Berlin	Telekom	53.54
Iceland	Reykjavík	Nova	64.61
Iran	Tehran	MTN IranCell	15.89
Japan	Tokyo	SoftBank	27.26
Mexico	Mexico City	AT&T	20.26
Morocco	Rabat	inwi	20.51
Nigeria	Abuja	MTN	29.23
Panama	Panama City	Cable & Wireless Panama / Movistar	14.85 / 14.80
Peru	Lima	Entel Peru	20.73
Poland	Warsaw	T-Mobile	36.07
Portugal	Lisbon	Vodafone	42.44
Russia	Moscow	MegaFon	37.06
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Zain	13.20
Senegal	Dakar	Orange	8.89
Serbia	Belgrade	Vip mobile	45.56
South Korea	Seoul	LG U+	50.03
Spain	Madrid	Vodafone	40.17
Sweden	Stockholm	Telia	54.49
Switzerland	Bern	Sunrise / Swisscom	42.14 / 41.91
Tunisia	Tunis	Ooredoo / Orange	19.90 / 19.89
Uruguay	Montevideo	Antel	20.35

Fixed broadband winners

Given that Iceland ranks second in the world for fixed broadband download speed on the Speedtest Global Index and has the world’s highest gigabit user penetration (GUP), we’re not surprised to see Reykjavík shut out the competition by coming out on top of World Cup contenders for fixed broadband speed, too. Seoul, South Korea comes in second for fixed broadband download speed among World Cup capitals and Paris, France takes third.

**Fixed Broadband Internet Speeds**
Capitals of World Cup Qualifying Countries | Q3 – Q4 2017
Country	Capital City	Average Download (Mbps)	Average Upload (Mbps)
Iceland	Reykjavík	142.89	154.28
South Korea	Seoul	130.75	131.96
France	Paris	112.58	55.86
Sweden	Stockholm	98.77	66.68
Spain	Madrid	86.59	73.43
Japan	Tokyo	75.88	70.46
Denmark	Copenhagen	72.74	52.13
Switzerland	Bern	68.82	54.44
Poland	Warsaw	62.57	16.19
Portugal	Lisbon	55.80	30.97
England	London	52.53	16.12
Germany	Berlin	46.84	9.52
Russia	Moscow	45.25	42.96
Belgium	Brussels	43.25	9.63
Panama	Panama City	29.11	5.93
Australia	Canberra	28.85	12.46
Serbia	Belgrade	26.45	5.59
Croatia	Zagreb	26.20	11.40
Mexico	Mexico City	24.11	10.14
Uruguay	Montevideo	23.02	5.82
Argentina	Buenos Aires	22.03	4.26
Brazil	Brasília	21.57	5.29
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	20.93	9.05
Peru	Lima	18.15	3.51
Colombia	Bogotá	13.43	6.48
Morocco	Rabat	11.83	2.51
Iran	Tehran	9.33	4.18
Costa Rica	San José	8.79	4.29
Nigeria	Abuja	8.07	5.27
Tunisia	Tunis	7.82	4.49
Senegal	Dakar	7.42	3.11
Egypt	Cairo	5.61	1.92

Group A again suffers on the fixed side with leader Russia coming in 13th based on Moscow’s fixed broadband download speed. Spain’s still the front-runner of Group B. France takes Group C, Iceland wins Group D, Switzerland tops Group E, South Korea reigns over Group F, England heads up Group G and Japan starts Group H based on average download speeds over fixed broadband in their respective capitals.

European capitals again fare well, with 12 of the 14 placing in the top half of fastest World Cup capitals for fixed broadband download speed. Belgrade, Serbia and Zagreb, Croatia rank 17th and 18th, respectively. Tokyo ranks much better for fixed broadband download speed than for mobile, which puts both Asian World Cup capitals in the top six.

With the exception of Panama City, Panama, which ranks 15th, all Latin American World Cup capitals are in the bottom half of the list for download speed over fixed broadband. As are all Middle Eastern and African capital cities.

Panama City’s fixed broadband download speed is 79.6% slower than Reykjavík’s. Riyadh, Saudia Arabia boasts the title of fastest World Cup capital in the Middle East, but is still 85.4% slower for fixed broadband downloads than Reykjavík. The fastest World Cup capital in Africa — Rabat, Morocco — is 91.7% slower than Reykjavík.

Fastest providers

Comparing Speed Scores for fixed broadband across World Cup capitals, Vodafone had wins in Berlin, Germany and Lisbon and Orange took Paris and tied for first in Madrid. The rest of the fastest ISPs vary by location as listed below:

**Fastest ISPs Speeds**
Capitals of World Cup Qualifying Countries | Q3 – Q4 2017
Country	Capital City	Fastest ISP	Speed Score
Argentina	Buenos Aires	Cablevisión Fibertel	21.72
Australia	Canberra	iiNet	33.23
Belgium	Brussels	Telenet	66.95
Brazil	Brasília	NET Virtua	27.30
Colombia	Bogotá	ETB	19.17
Costa Rica	San José	Cabletica	8.28
Croatia	Zagreb	vip	30.23
Denmark	Copenhagen	Fiberby	103.26
Egypt	Cairo	TE Data	4.84
England	London	Hyperoptic	117.40
France	Paris	Orange	107.20
Germany	Berlin	Vodafone	55.46
Iceland	Reykjavík	Nova	278.06
Iran	Tehran	Mobin Net	11.74
Japan	Tokyo	So-net	118.05
Mexico	Mexico City	Axtel	45.83
Morocco	Rabat	Maroc Telecom	9.25
Nigeria	Abuja	MTN	10.73
Panama	Panama City	Cable Onda	25.08
Peru	Lima	Movistar	16.64
Poland	Warsaw	UPC	82.72
Portugal	Lisbon	Vodafone	61.80
Russia	Moscow	MGTS	62.00
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	STC	16.46
Senegal	Dakar	Tigo	6.42
Serbia	Belgrade	SBB	34.60
South Korea	Seoul	KT	162.45
Spain	Madrid	Masmovil / Orange	101.52 / 101.34
Sweden	Stockholm	Ownit	158.78
Switzerland	Bern	Fiber7	241.93
Tunisia	Tunis	TOPNET	7.61
Uruguay	Montevideo	Antel	22.01

Did your team not come out as expected? Or are you defending a tight match? Take a Speedtest on Android, iOS or on the web and we’ll check back in on scores closer to the main event.

Ookla retains ownership of this article including all of the intellectual property rights, data, content graphs and analysis. This article may not be quoted, reproduced, distributed or published for any commercial purpose without prior consent. Members of the press and others using the findings in this article for non-commercial purposes are welcome to publicly share and link to report information with attribution to Ookla.

About the Author

Isla McKetta

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Isla McKetta | June 26, 2018

Comparing Mobile Markets in South America’s Largest Economies

Though some of the largest economies in South America have struggled in recent years, the size of the region’s economies and populations make it worth watching from a telecommunications perspective. As such, we took a look at data from Speedtest Intelligence® from Q1 2018 to understand which countries are making the biggest strides in mobile internet speeds.

Which South American country has the fastest mobile speeds?

Peru had the fastest mean download speed during Q1 2018 of any of the countries on our list. Brazil showed a 28.7% increase over the same period last year to rank second. Third place Chile’s download speed actually declined slightly. Though Argentina came in fifth, the country’s 25.8% improvement in mobile download speed is impressive.

**Download Speeds in South America’s Largest Economies**
Q1 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	% Change YOY
Peru	20.00	10.9%
Brazil	16.95	28.7%
Chile	16.26	-1.2%
Colombia	15.74	8.9%
Argentina	14.39	25.8%
Venezuela	7.95	-10.1%

It’s not surprising that Venezuela shows the slowest mobile speed given the country’s economic collapse which has caused operational problems for many corporations. Unfortunately, Venezuela’s last place position is accompanied by a 10.1% decline in mobile download speed.

Mobile speeds in South America’s largest cities

Comparing mean download speeds in the continent’s 10 most populous cities, we found that Rio was the fastest city in South America in Q1 2018. Lima, the second fastest city, was the only city in the top five not located in Brazil.

Salvador, Buenos Aires, Rio, Brasília and São Paulo all saw impressive double-digit increases in their mobile download speeds over the same period the year before.

**Download Speeds in South America’s Largest Cities**
Q1 2018
City	Mean Download (Mbps)	% Change YOY
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	22.40	30.4%
Lima, Peru	21.32	-3.5%
Brasília, Brazil	19.55	27.5%
Salvador, Brazil	18.25	41.7%
São Paulo, Brazil	18.02	21.1%
Bogotá, Colombia	16.67	4.1%
Santiago, Chile	15.98	0.4%
Buenos Aires, Argentina	15.48	33.8%
Fortaleza, Brazil	14.33	4.4%
Caracas, Venezuela	9.06	-11.6%

Venezuela again fares poorly with a mean mobile download speed of 9.06 Mbps in Caracas, a decline of 11.6% since Q1 2017. Caracas was not the only city where internet speeds decreased, however, Lima saw a 3.5% decline.

How forward-looking carriers are improving their infrastructure (and speeds)

Carriers are a driving force in improving speeds in any market, so we dug into what some of the largest players in these six countries are doing to improve the speeds their customers are experiencing.

Avantel (Colombia)

Over the past four years, Avantel has been delivering a very competitive experience mainly using its AWS spectrum assets. Using Nokia’s modular infrastructure, Avantel has been able to seamlessly integrate IMS into the core and successfully launch services such as Voice over LTE (VoLTE), enabling a more efficient use of spectrum assets.

Bitel (Peru)

After launching LTE in the 900MHz band in 500 towns and cities at the tail end of 2016, Vietnamese-backed operator Bitel has committed to expanding their coverage and adding a capacity layer in the 2.6 GHz band over the next three years. This will surely offer a boost in performance and overall user experience.

Claro (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru)

In Brazil, Claro’s leading LTE network uses a healthy mix of low, mid and high frequency bands offering depth of coverage across a wide area. Using carrier aggregation, the operator is able to increase the speeds for users with capable handsets in 140 cities. In good signal conditions modern devices equipped with four receive antennas (4×4 MIMO) and capable of processing 8-bits per transmission (256 QAM) should allow subscribers to achieve even higher peak and average data rates in many areas. In some areas of São Paulo the operator is able to offer peak speeds of 1 Gbps by aggregating licensed (2.5 GHz) with the unlicensed (5 GHz) spectrum using technology called License-Assisted Access (LAA). In preparation for 5G, Claro and Ericsson staged a demo utilizing 100 MHz-wide channels of spectrum in the 15 GHz band, achieving speeds of up to 4.5 Gbps.

Entel Movil (Chile, Peru)

In Chile, the second largest mobile operator Entel Chile is leveraging its 700 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum assets to provide a solid user experience across its footprint. In addition, a partnership with Ericsson ensures a rich portfolio of advanced LTE features and future upgradability to the upcoming technologies, including 5G.

Movilnet (Venezuela)

Following the launch of LTE in the 2100 MHz spectrum band in 2017, Movilnet is looking to expand its LTE capacity in 2019 as the CDMA sunset is scheduled for tail end of this year.

Movistar (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela)

The major player across the South American continent is Movistar, owned by Spain’s Telefonica. Using its scale and financial might, the brand is able to provide an extremely competitive mobile experience by leveraging the latest LTE technologies, including Higher Order MIMO and Higher Order Modulation. This improves speeds, lowers the resource utilization and increases the network efficiency.

Nextel (Brazil)

In Brazil, Nextel’s LTE network is delivered over the 1800 MHz spectrum band, and the limited LTE spectrum assets (15 MHz wide) are making it difficult for the carrier to compete with larger operators. But with the help of Huawei’s LTE-Advanced equipment, the carrier is able to maximize the spectral efficiency by installing the 4T4R (four-transmit, four-receive) radios at cell sites in order to deliver speeds up to 225 Mbps in selected areas. It’s worth noting that Nextel Brazil is one of the last iDEN operators in the world, and the carrier has been delaying the sunset of this network technology originally launched in 1998. Once iDEN is decommissioned, the 800 MHz spectrum assets could be repurposed to deliver significant improvements in radio access, specifically in terms of network propagation and penetration.

Oi (Brazil)

After a recent financial struggle, which included filing the largest bankruptcy request in Brazil’s history, Oi is getting ready to launch LTE-Advanced in July with a plan to cover 26 cities by the end of 2018. Using two frequency bands (1800 MHz and 2600 MHz), Oi is looking to offer competitive network experience to over 40 million of its subscribers.

Personal (Argentina)

Telecom Personal now covers more than 1,000 cities and towns which make up more than 80% of the population of Argentina. About two-thirds of all the traffic is now carried over the carrier’s LTE network which supports the speeds in excess of 100 Mbps by combining 700 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz spectrum bands. Together with Nokia, Telecom Personal successfully completed 5G trials in Buenos Aires using 400 MHz of the millimeter wave spectrum in the 28 GHz band, reaching speeds of 10 Gbps.

Telefonica Brasil (Brazil)

Telefonica Brasil, operating as Vivo, holds a similar spectrum portfolio to Claro of Band 28, Band 3 and Band 7 assets. Using the available tools from the LTE-A toolbox (carrier aggregation, 256 QAM and 4×4 MIMO), the operator is able to offer speeds in excess of 530 Mbps in selected areas on capable devices powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon X16 and X20 LTE modems. Vivo also offers Voice Over LTE (VoLTE) service in two markets, Rio Verde and Brasília.

TIM Brasil (Brazil)

Leveraging a long-term partnership with Nokia, TIM Brasil has been able to provide LTE service across many regions of the country. Using Nokia’s scalable “5G-ready” AirScale radio platform, TIM has been able to deliver the latest LTE-Advanced network features and pave the way for the upcoming 5G wave. TIM also prides itself in being the first Latin American VoLTE operator, launching the service in Brasília in July 2017 and subsequently in 20 additional markets.

Tigo (Colombia)

Back in April, Tigo has activated carrier aggregation in parts of Bogotá, claiming the title of the first LTE-Advanced network in Colombia. As a result, users in the busiest areas of the nation’s capital should be able to experience speeds in excess of 100 Mbps.

WOM (Chile)

After the initial launch of LTE in 2015 and the continued rollout in 2016, WOM continues to provide LTE service in the 2100 MHz band, and aims to expand its market share over the next 5 years from 11% to 25%.

Learn more about the insights offered from Speedtest Intelligence, including data on the speed and quality of your networks and those of your competitors.

About the Author

Isla McKetta

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Isla McKetta | November 19, 2018

Uncovering Which Latin American Countries have Adequate Internet Speeds (and Which Do Not)

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Latin America is a booming market for internet. Between a rapid increase in broadband subscribers and some of the most engaged mobile internet users, Latin Americans are smartphone savvy and looking for first world connection speeds. Trouble is, some markets don’t have access to the kind of fast mobile and broadband speeds that encourage economies to grow.

We analyzed Speedtest data on mobile and fixed broadband speeds from across Latin America during Q2-Q3 2018. The list includes sovereign countries and other generally recognized territories, except for Saint Barthélemy which did not show a significant test volume. We’ve broken down each set of results by the speeds typically needed for various activities:

The results revealed deep divides in which countries are getting the speeds they need to easily connect to the world at large, those that have adequate connections and those that are struggling to connect.

Which country has the fastest mobile speeds in Latin America?

According to the GSMA, “Smartphones have been instrumental in establishing Latin America as one of the world’s largest consumers of social media, with the vast majority of usage occurring over mobile networks.” So who’s able to use those smartphones to their full capability and who’s better off using broadband?

4K Video Streamers

Our first group is made up of countries that should have the mean mobile download speeds to navigate even the most data-intensive mobile experiences. Martinique leads, ranking first in Latin America with a mean download speed over mobile that’s faster even than France. Guadeloupe is a close second.

**Latin American Countries with Mobile Speeds > 25 Mbps**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)
Martinique	35.27	9.64
Guadeloupe	32.85	8.35

HD Streamers

The next group contains countries where residents should have the mobile speeds they need for HD streaming (at 1080p), video chat and social media. Uruguay tops this list to rank third in Latin America for mobile download speed. Saint Martin, Mexico, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru and Honduras all show mobile download speeds faster than 20 Mbps.

**Latin American Countries with Mobile Speeds 6-25 Mbps**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)
Uruguay	23.10	11.39
Saint Martin	22.65	8.00
Mexico	22.05	11.78
French Guiana	21.40	6.84
Ecuador	21.37	8.21
Peru	20.83	12.86
Honduras	20.36	10.33
Nicaragua	19.68	8.36
Brazil	18.50	7.52
Bolivia	17.33	11.03
Chile	16.32	9.07
Colombia	16.11	8.85
Argentina	15.40	7.77
Dominican Republic	14.90	8.28
Guatemala	14.89	9.48
Costa Rica	14.59	6.56
Puerto Rico	14.36	8.41
Paraguay	12.67	7.61
Panama	12.30	8.54
Haiti	9.33	3.41
El Salvador	8.83	4.17
Venezuela	7.74	4.33

Nicaragua, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Paraguay and Panama all show average mobile download speeds that are faster than the 6-10 Mbps recommended for HD video streaming on 1080p. This is important as growing segments of this region consume media primarily over mobile connections.

Learn more about Brazil’s mobile market in our Brazil Market Snapshot.

Video Chat and Email

The mobile speeds picture is not so good in Cuba where mobile speeds are slow enough that residents might struggle to use smartphones for more than one-to-one video chats and emails.

**Latin American Countries with Mobile Speeds < 6 Mbps**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)
Cuba	5.34	1.92

Looking at the countries with the slowest speeds in Latin America, we can see they have all faced significant structural challenges including war, poverty and natural disaster. They are also countries that clearly need significant mobile investment.

While mobile infrastructure might not be the first thing these slowest countries choose to invest in, improving speeds in these areas could also significantly boost their economies by creating an environment that’s ripe for new startups and investment.

Fixed broadband

The speeds needed to complete internet tasks are similar on fixed broadband to what they are on mobile. What’s not the same is the list of countries in the 4K Video Streamers category.

4K Video Streamers

Chile jumps to the top when considering mean download speeds over fixed broadband in Latin America. Uruguay is second, Puerto Rico third, Panama fourth, Martinique fifth and Paraguay sixth. All of these Latin American countries have fast enough fixed broadband speeds to allow residents to easily do anything they’d like online.

**Latin American Countries with Fixed Broadband Speeds > 25 Mbps**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)	% Difference in Download Mobile Over Fixed
Chile	47.40	9.28	-190.44%
Uruguay	35.97	9.38	-55.71%
Puerto Rico	35.39	7.85	-146.45%
Panama	34.94	7.21	-184.07%
Martinique	29.71	11.39	15.76%
Paraguay	27.84	8.00	-119.73%

In almost all of these countries our analysis shows that fixed broadband download speeds are significantly faster than those on mobile. The exception is Martinique, which has faster mobile downloads than those on fixed broadband.

HD Streamers

The next group contains countries whose fixed broadband download speeds are good enough for video chat but where heavier uses like online gaming and streaming might not be as enjoyable. Brazil tops this list, ranking 7th in Latin America for download speed over fixed broadband. Brazil is followed by Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Peru, Mexico, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Saint Martin, El Salvador, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

**Latin American Countries with Fixed Broadband Speeds 6-25 Mbps**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)	% Difference in Download Mobile Over Fixed
Brazil	23.64	10.57	-27.78%
Guadeloupe	23.31	9.34	29.04%
French Guiana	22.58	11.45	-5.51%
Peru	22.43	4.90	-7.68%
Mexico	22.37	8.53	-1.45%
Argentina	19.68	4.24	-27.79%
Dominican Republic	14.16	3.83	4.97%
Colombia	13.79	5.86	14.40%
Ecuador	13.08	9.69	38.79%
Costa Rica	11.39	3.61	21.93%
Saint Martin	9.13	5.54	59.69%
El Salvador	8.38	3.14	5.10%
Haiti	8.33	6.42	10.72%
Guatemala	7.94	3.78	46.68%
Honduras	7.32	4.36	64.05%
Bolivia	6.96	3.13	59.84%
Nicaragua	6.62	3.39	66.36%

With the exception of Guadeloupe, the six fastest countries in this group all have faster fixed broadband speeds than those on mobile. From the Dominican Republic on down the list, the rest of the countries in this group have faster mobile download speeds than those on fixed broadband.

Video Chat and Email

Venezuela joins Cuba on this list of countries in Latin America with fixed broadband download speeds slower than 6 Mbps. Though both countries have faster mobile download speeds than they do on fixed broadband. Which is good, because residents might need to resort to their phones to do more than simple video chats or email.

**Latin American Countries with Fixed Broadband Speeds < 6 Mbps**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
Country	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)	% Difference in Download Mobile Over Fixed
Venezuela	3.96	1.50	48.84%
Cuba	3.73	4.07	30.15%

As we saw with mobile internet, there are many countries in Latin America that could use a solid investment in fixed broadband speeds. That is, unless providers are ready for mobile to be the primary vehicle consumers use to access the internet.

Mobile and broadband internet performance at a city level

Fort-de-France, Martinique ranks a strong first for mobile speed among the largest cities in Latin America, Marigot, Saint Martin second and Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe third. On the other end of the mobile spectrum, Havana ranks last followed by San Salvador, El Salvador and Caracas, Venezuela.

**Internet Performance in Latin American Cities**
Speedtest Data | Q2-Q3 2018
City	Mobile Download (Mbps)	Mobile Upload (Mbps)	Fixed Download (Mbps)	Fixed Upload (Mbps)	% Difference in Download Mobile Over Fixed
Asunción, Paraguay	14.58	8.57	43.49	8.86	-198.29%
Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe	27.73	8.61	21.20	8.15	23.55%
Belo Horizonte, Brazil	19.00	7.86	28.38	6.62	-49.37%
Bogotá, Colombia	15.89	9.48	16.46	7.16	-3.59%
Brasília, Brazil	22.20	9.29	29.27	7.79	-31.85%
Buenos Aires, Argentina	16.40	8.53	27.56	5.31	-68.05%
Cali, Colombia	22.35	12.11	13.10	5.16	41.39%
Caracas, Venezuela	8.83	5.13	5.10	2.04	42.24%
Cayenne, French Guiana	22.66	7.86	25.32	14.67	-11.74%
Curitiba, Brazil	22.60	8.31	32.58	17.65	-44.16%
Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico	16.67	10.35	19.89	3.98	-19.32%
Fort-de-France, Martinique	36.00	10.34	43.60	21.47	-21.11%
Fortaleza, Brazil	18.85	8.63	26.20	10.33	-38.99%
Guatemala City, Guatemala	16.09	10.33	9.60	5.10	40.34%
Guayaquil, Ecuador	23.61	9.43	14.44	9.42	38.84%
Havana, Cuba	4.47	1.26	2.99	3.10	33.11%
La Paz, Bolivia	16.92	11.81	7.16	3.20	57.68%
Lima, Peru	22.23	14.89	27.52	6.66	-23.80%
Managua, Nicaragua	21.04	8.89	6.87	3.52	67.35%
Manaus, Brazil	14.83	7.16	20.92	4.10	-41.07%
Marigot, Saint Martin	28.97	9.23	9.62	5.45	66.79%
Medellín, Colombia	17.58	9.17	14.76	6.87	16.04%
Mexico City, Mexico	21.41	11.22	29.81	12.41	-39.23%
Montevideo, Uruguay	23.30	11.65	38.39	10.12	-64.76%
Panama City, Panama	12.18	8.82	37.02	7.88	-203.94%
Port-au-Prince, Haiti	10.08	3.71	8.94	6.63	11.31%
Quito, Ecuador	21.01	7.75	15.54	11.59	26.04%
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	22.02	9.02	28.62	10.36	-29.97%
Salvador, Brazil	17.85	7.44	20.43	6.09	-14.45%
San José, Costa Rica	14.69	6.92	12.39	4.74	15.66%
San Juan, Puerto Rico	16.05	9.76	50.13	15.64	-212.34%
San Salvador, El Salvador	8.65	4.23	10.26	3.88	-18.61%
Santiago, Chile	16.05	9.35	42.69	12.37	-165.98%
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic	15.15	8.87	17.86	4.47	-17.89%
São Paulo, Brazil	20.74	8.41	36.54	17.45	-76.18%
Sucre, Bolivia	14.81	11.18	4.86	3.24	67.18%
Tegucigalpa, Honduras	26.24	13.61	7.39	2.91	71.84%

Denser and more urban locations are easier and more cost-effective places to deploy improvements to mobile infrastructure, so if speeds are slow in these areas, it’s a good sign that speeds are much worse elsewhere in the country.

On the fixed broadband side, San Juan, Puerto Rico ranks first in Latin America, followed by Fort-de-France, Martinique and Asunción, Paraguay. The city with the slowest fixed broadband download speed of those we analyzed is Havana, Cuba followed by Sucre, Bolivia and Caracas Venezuela.

Now that you know whether your country or city is rated for 4K video streaming, HD video streaming or just video chat and email, it’s time to find out if your speeds are above or below average. Take a Speedtest on Android, iOS or the web and tweet to us at @speedtest to share your experience.

Revelamos qué países de América Latina tienen velocidades de Internet adecuadas (y cuáles no)

América Latina es un mercado en expansión para Internet. Entre el rápido aumento de los suscriptores a la banda ancha y algunos de los usuarios de Internet móvil más activos, podemos decir que los latinoamericanos son conocedores de los teléfonos inteligentes y pretenden alcanzar las velocidades de conexión del primer mundo. El problema es que algunos mercados no tienen acceso a los tipos de velocidades de banda ancha y móvil rápidas que impulsan el crecimiento de las economías.

Analizamos los datos de Speedtest sobre velocidades de banda ancha móvil y fija de toda América Latina durante el segundo y tercer trimestres de 2018. La lista incluye países soberanos y otros territorios generalmente reconocidos, con la excepción de San Bartolomé, que no presentó un volumen de prueba significativo. Desglosamos cada conjunto de resultados por las velocidades que, en general, se necesitan para diversas actividades:

Los resultados revelaron grandes diferencias en los países que obtienen las velocidades que necesitan para conectarse de manera sencilla con el resto del mundo, los que tienen conexiones adecuadas y los que tienen dificultades de conexión.

¿Cuál es el país de América Latina que tiene las velocidades móviles más rápidas?

De acuerdo con la Asociación GSM, los “teléfonos inteligentes han sido fundamentales para que América Latina se convirtiera en uno de los más grandes consumidores de redes sociales del mundo, ya que la mayor parte de ese consumo se produce en redes móviles”. Por lo tanto, ¿quién puede aprovechar al máximo los teléfonos inteligentes y a quién le conviene usar la banda ancha?

Transmisores de video en 4K

Nuestro primer grupo está compuesto por países que deberían tener las velocidades medias de descarga móvil necesarias para admitir las experiencias móviles con el uso más intensivo de datos. Martinica lidera el grupo ocupando el primer lugar de América Latina con una velocidad media de descarga móvil más rápida que incluso la de Francia. Guadalupe ocupa el segundo lugar.

**Países de América Latina con velocidades móviles superiores a 25 Mbps**
Datos de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Enlace descendente móvil (Mbps)	Enlace ascendente móvil (Mbps)
Martinica	35,27	9,64
Guadeloupe	32,85	8,35

Transmisores en HD

El siguiente grupo incluye países en que los residentes deberían tener las velocidades móviles que necesitan para transmisión en HD (a 1080p), videollamada y redes sociales. Uruguay encabeza esta lista ocupando el tercer puesto de América Latina en cuanto a velocidad de descarga móvil. San Martín, México, Guayana Francesa, Ecuador, Perú y Honduras presentan velocidades de descarga móvil superiores a 20 Mbps.

**Países de América Latina con velocidades móviles de 6 a 25 Mbps**
Datos de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Enlace descendente móvil (Mbps)	Enlace ascendente móvil (Mbps)
Uruguay	23,10	11,39
San Martín	22,65	8,00
México	22,05	11,78
Guayana Francesa	21,40	6,84
Ecuador	21,37	8,21
Perú	20,83	12,86
Honduras	20,36	10,33
Nicaragua	19,68	8,36
Brasil	18,50	7,52
Bolivia	17,33	11,03
Chile	16,32	9,07
Colombia	16,11	8,85
Argentina	15,40	7,77
República Dominicana	14,90	8,28
Guatemala	14,89	9,48
Costa Rica	14,59	6,56
Puerto Rico	14,36	8,41
Paraguay	12,67	7,61
Panamá	12,30	8,54
Haití	9,33	3,41
El Salvador	8,83	4,17
Venezuela	7,74	4,33

Nicaragua, Brasil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, República Dominicana, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Paraguay y Panamá presentan velocidades medias de descarga móvil superiores a los 6-10 Mbps recomendados para transmisión de video en HD a 1080p. Esto es importante, ya que los segmentos en crecimiento de esta región utilizan los medios principalmente mediante conexiones móviles.

Conozca más sobre el mercado móvil brasileño.

Videollamada y correo electrónico

El panorama de las velocidades móviles no es muy bueno en Cuba, donde las velocidades móviles son tan lentas que los residentes tienen dificultades para usar teléfonos inteligentes para correos electrónicos y videollamadas entre más de dos personas.

**Países de América Latina con velocidades móviles inferiores a 6 Mbps**
Datos de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Enlace descendente móvil (Mbps)	Enlace ascendente móvil (Mbps)
Cuba	5,34	1,92

Si analizamos los países con las velocidades más lentas de América Latina, podemos observar que todos han enfrentado desafíos estructurales significativos, entre ellos, guerras, pobreza y desastres naturales. Además, son países que, sin dudas, necesitan una importante inversión en redes móviles.

Si bien la infraestructura móvil puede no ser lo primero en que eligen invertir los países más lentos, al mejorar las velocidades en estas áreas, también se podrían impulsar significativamente sus economías mediante la creación de entornos preparados para nuevas empresas emergentes e inversiones.

Banda ancha fija

Las velocidades necesarias para realizar tareas en Internet son similares para la banda ancha fija y la banda ancha móvil. Lo que no es igual es la lista de países dentro de la categoría de transmisores de video en 4K.

Transmisores de video en 4K

Chile asciende al primer lugar cuando consideramos las velocidades medias de descarga mediante banda ancha fija en América Latina. Uruguay ocupa el segundo lugar; Puerto Rico, el tercero; Panamá, el cuarto; Martinica, el quinto; y Paraguay, el sexto. Todos estos países latinoamericanos cuentan con velocidades de banda ancha fija lo suficientemente rápidas para permitir que los residentes hagan lo que quieran con facilidad en Internet.

**Países de América Latina con velocidades de banda ancha fija superiores a 25 Mbps**
Datos de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Enlace descendente fijo (Mbps)	Enlace ascendente fijo (Mbps)	Diferencia porcentual entre las descargas mediante banda ancha móvil y fija
Chile	47,40	9,28	-190,44%
Uruguay	35,97	9,38	-55,71%
Puerto Rico	35,39	7,85	-146,45%
Panamá	34,94	7,21	-184,07%
Martinica	29,71	11,39	15,76%
Paraguay	27,84	8,00	-119,73%

Nuestro análisis muestra que, en casi todos estos países, las velocidades de descarga de banda ancha fija son significativamente más rápidas que las de banda ancha móvil. La única excepción es Martinica, donde las velocidades de descarga móvil son más rápidas que las de banda ancha fija.

Transmisores en HD

El siguiente grupo incluye países cuyas velocidades de descarga de banda ancha fija son lo suficientemente buenas para videollamadas, pero donde los usos más intensivos, como los juegos y las transmisiones en línea, pueden no resultar tan placenteros. Brasil encabeza esta lista ocupando el séptimo lugar en América Latina para velocidad de descarga mediante banda ancha fija. A continuación de Brasil, se ubican Guadalupe, Guayana Francesa, Perú, México, Argentina, República Dominicana, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, San Martín, El Salvador, Haití, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia y Nicaragua.

**Países de América Latina con velocidades de banda ancha fija de 6 a 25 Mbps**
Datos de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Enlace descendente fijo (Mbps)	Enlace ascendente fijo (Mbps)	Diferencia porcentual entre las descargas mediante banda ancha móvil y fija
Brasil	23,64	10,57	-27,78%
Guadeloupe	23,31	9,34	29,04%
Guayana Francesa	22,58	11,45	-5,51%
Perú	22,43	4,90	-7,68%
México	22,37	8,53	-1,45%
Argentina	19,68	4,24	-27,79%
República Dominicana	14,16	3,83	4,97%
Colombia	13,79	5,86	14,40%
Ecuador	13,08	9,69	38,79%
Costa Rica	11,39	3,61	21,93%
San Martín	9,13	5,54	59,69%
El Salvador	8,38	3,14	5,10%
Haití	8,33	6,42	10,72%
Guatemala	7,94	3,78	46,68%
Honduras	7,32	4,36	64,05%
Bolivia	6,96	3,13	59,84%
Nicaragua	6,62	3,39	66,36%

Con la excepción de Guadalupe, los seis países más rápidos de este grupo tienen velocidades de banda ancha fija más rápidas que las de banda ancha móvil. A partir de la República Dominicana hasta el final de la lista, el resto de los países de este grupo tienen velocidades de descarga móvil más rápidas que las velocidades de banda ancha fija.

Videollamada y correo electrónico

Venezuela ocupa el mismo lugar que Cuba en esta lista de países de América Latina con velocidades de descarga de banda ancha fija inferiores a 6 Mbps. Sin embargo, ambos países tienen velocidades de descarga móvil más rápidas que las velocidades de descarga por banda ancha fija. Esto es positivo, porque los residentes pueden necesitar recurrir a sus teléfonos para mucho más que solamente simples videollamadas o correos electrónicos.

**Países de América Latina con velocidades móviles inferiores a 6 Mbps**
Datos de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Enlace descendente fijo (Mbps)	Enlace ascendente fijo (Mbps)	Diferencia porcentual entre las descargas mediante banda ancha móvil y fija
Venezuela	3,96	1,50	48,84%
Cuba	3,73	4,07	30,15%

Tal como observamos con el uso de Internet móvil, hay muchos países latinoamericanos donde sería recomendable realizar inversiones sólidas en velocidades de banda ancha fija. Es decir, a menos que los proveedores estén preparados para que la banda ancha móvil sea el principal medio que los consumidores utilizan para acceder a Internet.

Rendimiento de Internet por banda ancha fija y móvil en las ciudades

Fort-de-France (Martinica) ocupa cómodamente el primer lugar en cuanto a velocidad móvil entre las ciudades más grandes de América Latina. Marigot (San Martín) ocupa el segundo lugar y Basse-Terre (Guadalupe), el tercero. En el otro extremo del espectro móvil, La Habana ocupa el último lugar, seguida de San Salvador (El Salvador) y Caracas (Venezuela).

**Rendimiento de Internet en ciudades latinoamericanas**

Datos de Speedtest | Q2-Q3 2018
Ciudad	Descarga móvil (Mbps)	Carga móvil (Mbps)	Descarga fijo (Mbps)	Carga fijo (Mbps)	Diferencia porcentual entre las descargas mediante banda ancha móvil y fija
Asunción, Paraguay	14,58	8,57	43,49	8,86	-198,29%
Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe	27,73	8,61	21,20	8,15	23,55%
Belo Horizonte, Brasil	19,00	7,86	28,38	6,62	-49,37%
Bogotá, Colombia	15,89	9,48	16,46	7,16	-3,59%
Brasília, Brazil	22,20	9,29	29,27	7,79	-31,85%
Buenos Aires, Argentina	16,40	8,53	27,56	5,31	-68,05%
Cali, Colombia	22,35	12,11	13,10	5,16	41,39%
Caracas, Venezuela	8,83	5,13	5,10	2,04	42,24%
Cayena, Guayana Francesa	22,66	7,86	25,32	14,67	-11,74%
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala	16,09	10,33	9,60	5,10	40,34%
Ciudad de México, México	21,41	11,22	29,81	12,41	-39,23%
Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá	12,18	8,82	37,02	7,88	-203,94%
Curitiba, Brasil	22,60	8,31	32,58	17,65	-44,16%
Ecatepec de Morelos, México	16,67	10,35	19,89	3,98	-19,32%
Fort-de-France, Martinica	36,00	10,34	43,60	21,47	-21,11%
Fortaleza, Brasil	18,85	8,63	26,20	10,33	-38,99%
Guayaquil, Ecuador	23,61	9,43	14,44	9,42	38,84%
La Habana, Cuba	4,47	1,26	2,99	3,10	33,11%
La Paz, Bolivia	16,92	11,81	7,16	3,20	57,68%
Lima, Perú	22,23	14,89	27,52	6,66	-23,80%
Managua, Nicaragua	21,04	8,89	6,87	3,52	67,35%
Manaos, Brasil	14,83	7,16	20,92	4,10	-41,07%
Marigot, San Martín	28,97	9,23	9,62	5,45	66,79%
Medellín, Colombia	17,58	9,17	14,76	6,87	16,04%
Montevideo, Uruguay	23,30	11,65	38,39	10,12	-64,76%
Puerto Príncipe, Haití	10,08	3,71	8,94	6,63	11,31%
Quito, Ecuador	21,01	7,75	15,54	11,59	26,04%
Río de Janeiro, Brasil	22,02	9,02	28,62	10,36	-29,97%
Salvador, Brasil	17,85	7,44	20,43	6,09	-14,45%
San José, Costa Rica	14,69	6,92	12,39	4,74	15,66%
San Juan, Puerto Rico	16,05	9,76	50,13	15,64	-212,34%
San Salvador, El Salvador	8,65	4,23	10,26	3,88	-18,61%
Santiago, Chile	16,05	9,35	42,69	12,37	-165,98%
Santo, Domingo, República Dominicana	15,15	8,87	17,86	4,47	-17,89%
San Pablo, Brasil	20,74	8,41	36,54	17,45	-76,18%
Sucre, Bolivia	14,81	11,18	4,86	3,24	67,18%
Tegucigalpa, Honduras	26,24	13,61	7,39	2,91	71,84%

Las ubicaciones más urbanas y con mayor densidad de población son lugares donde es más fácil y económico implantar mejoras para la infraestructura móvil; por lo tanto, si las velocidades son lentas en estas áreas, es una buena señal que las velocidades sean aún más lentas en otros lugares del país.

En cuanto a la banda ancha fija, San Juan (Puerto Rico) ocupa el primer lugar de América Latina, seguida de Fort-de-France (Martinica) y Asunción (Paraguay). La ciudad con la velocidad de descarga de banda ancha fija más lenta de las que analizamos es La Habana (Cuba), seguida de Sucre (Bolivia) y Caracas (Venezuela).

Ahora que sabe si su país o su ciudad son aptos para transmisión de video en 4K, transmisión de video en HD o solo para videollamadas y correo electrónico, es momento de averiguar si las velocidades están por encima o por debajo de la media. Realice un Speedtest en Android, iOS o la Web y envíenos un tuit a @speedtest para compartir su experiencia.

Revelando quais países da América Latina têm velocidade de internet adequada (e quais não têm)

A América Latina é um mercado em expansão para a internet. A população da América Latina vivenciou um crescimento rápido no número de assinantes de banda larga, tem alguns dos usuários de internet móvel mais engajados do mundo, sabe usar bem seus smartphones e busca velocidades de conexão de primeiro mundo. O problema é que alguns mercados não têm acesso às velocidades rápidas de banda larga móvel e fixa que encorajam o crescimento econômico.

Analisamos dados do Speedtest quanto à velocidade de banda larga móvel e fixa de toda a América Latina durante o segundo e o terceiro trimestres de 2018. Essa lista inclui países soberanos e outros territórios geralmente reconhecidos, exceto São Bartolomeu, que não exibiu um volume de teste significativo. Detalhamos cada conjunto de resultados de acordo com as velocidades tipicamente necessárias para diversas atividades.

O resultado revelou que existe uma divisão em três grandes grupos: países que atingem as velocidades necessárias para se conectar com facilidade com o resto do mundo, países que atingem conexões adequadas e países que enfrentam dificuldades de conexão.

Qual país tem a maior velocidade de internet móvel na América Latina?

De acordo com o GSMA, “os smartphones foram e são essenciais para estabelecer a América Latina como um dos maiores consumidores de redes sociais do mundo, com grande parte do uso ocorrendo em redes móveis.” Então queremos saber: que países conseguem usar smartphones em sua capacidade total e que países dependem mais de banda larga fixa?

Streamers de vídeo em 4K

Nosso primeiro grupo é composto por países que atingem velocidades médias de download móvel ideal até mesmo para as experiências móveis que mais usam dados. Martinica está na liderança, ocupando a primeira posição na América Latina e contando com uma velocidade média de download em banda larga móvel mais rápida do que a da França. Guadalupe fica em segundo lugar, com pouca diferença.

**Países da América Latina com velocidades móveis maiores que 25 Mbps**
Dados de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Veloc. de download (Mbps)	Veloc. de upload (Mbps)
Martinica	35,27	9,64
Guadeloupe	32,85	8,35

Streamers de HD

No próximo grupo estão países nos quais os residentes têm velocidade móvel suficiente para streaming HD (em 1080p), chat por vídeo e redes sociais. O Uruguai ocupa o primeiro lugar da lista, ficando em terceiro na América Latina em questão de velocidade de download móvel. São Martinho, México, Guiana Francesa, Equador, Peru e Honduras apresentam velocidades de download móvel mais rápidas do que 20 Mbps.

**Países da América Latina com velocidades móveis entre 6 e 25 Mbps**
Dados de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Veloc. de download (Mbps)	Veloc. de upload (Mbps)
Uruguai	23,10	11,39
São Martinho	22,65	8,00
México	22,05	11,78
Guiana Francesa	21,40	6,84
Equador	21,37	8,21
Peru	20,83	12,86
Honduras	20,36	10,33
Nicarágua	19,68	8,36
Brasil	18,50	7,52
Bolívia	17,33	11,03
Chile	16,32	9,07
Colômbia	16,11	8,85
Argentina	15,40	7,77
República Dominicana	14,90	8,28
Guatemala	14,89	9,48
Costa Rica	14,59	6,56
Porto Rico	14,36	8,41
Paraguai	12,67	7,61
Panamá	12,30	8,54
Haiti	9,33	3,41
El Salvador	8,83	4,17
Venezuela	7,74	4,33

Nicarágua, Brasil, Bolívia, Chile, Colômbia, Argentina, República Dominicana, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Porto Rico, Paraguai e Panamá têm velocidades de download móvel médias mais rápidas do que os 6 a 10 Mbps recomendados para streaming de vídeo HD em 1080p. Isso é importante, pois cada vez mais segmentos dessa região consomem mídia primariamente por conexões móveis.

Saiba mais sobre o mercado de telefonia móvel do Brasil.

Chat por vídeo e e-mail

A cena da velocidade móvel não é tão boa em Cuba, onde as velocidades móveis são baixas a ponto de os residentes terem problemas para usar smartphones quando o uso vai além de chats de vídeo com duas pessoas e troca de e-mails.

**Países da América Latina com velocidades móveis abaixo de 6 Mbps**
Dados de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Veloc. de download (Mbps)	Veloc. de upload (Mbps)
Cuba	5,34	1,92

Observando os países com as velocidades mais baixas da América Latina, podemos constatar que todos eles enfrentaram desafios estruturais significativos, tais como guerra, pobreza e desastres naturais. Também são países que claramente precisam de investimento móvel significativo.

Embora a infraestrutura móvel possa não ser a primeira coisa na qual esses países mais lentos escolhem investir, a melhoria das velocidades nessas áreas também pode impulsionar significativamente suas economias ao criar um ambiente propício para novas startups e investimentos.

Banda larga fixa

As velocidades necessárias para realizar as tarefas da internet são semelhantes na banda larga fixa e móvel. Mas a lista de países na categoria Streamers de vídeo em 4K não é igual.

Streamers de vídeo em 4K

O Chile pula para o primeiro lugar quando consideramos as velocidades médias de download em banda larga fixa na América Latina. O Uruguai fica em segundo, Porto Rico em terceiro, Panamá em quarto, Martinica em quinto e Paraguai em sexto. Todos esses países da América Latina têm velocidades de banda larga fixa rápidas o suficiente para permitir que os residentes façam o que quiserem on-line e com facilidade.

**Países da América Latina com velocidades de banda larga fixa maior que 25 Mbps**
Dados de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Veloc. de download (Mbps)	Veloc. de upload (Mbps)	Percentual de diferença na veloc. de download de banda larga móvel em relação a banda larga fixa
Chile	47,40	9,28	-190,44%
Uruguai	35,97	9,38	-55,71%
Porto Rico	35,39	7,85	-146,45%
Panamá	34,94	7,21	-184,07%
Martinica	29,71	11,39	15,76%
Paraguai	27,84	8,00	-119,73%

Em quase todos esses países, nossa análise revela que as velocidades de download de banda larga fixa são significativamente mais rápidas do que as velocidades de redes móveis. A exceção é Martinica, que tem velocidades de downloads móveis mais rápidas do que as velocidades downloads de banda larga fixa.

Streamers de HD

O próximo grupo contém países cujas velocidades de download de banda larga fixa são boas o suficiente para chat por vídeo, mas não são ideais para usos que exigem maior velocidade, tais como jogos on-line e streaming. O Brasil ocupa a primeira posição nessa lista e a 7ª na América Latina para velocidade de download em banda larga fixa. Depois do Brasil, temos Guadalupe, Guiana Francesa, Peru, México, Argentina, República Dominicana, Colômbia, Equador, Costa Rica, São Martinho, El Salvador, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolívia e Nicarágua.

**Países da América Latina com velocidades de banda larga fixa entre 6 e 25 Mbps**
Dados de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Veloc. de download (Mbps)	Veloc. de upload (Mbps)	Percentual de diferença na veloc. de download de banda larga móvel em relação a banda larga fixa
Brasil	23,64	10,57	-27,78%
Guadeloupe	23,31	9,34	29,04%
Guaiana Francesa	22,58	11,45	-5,51%
Peru	22,43	4,90	-7,68%
México	22,37	8,53	-1,45%
Argentina	19,68	4,24	-27,79%
República Dominicana	14,16	3,83	4,97%
Colômbia	13,79	5,86	14,40%
Equador	13,08	9,69	38,79%
Costa Rica	11,39	3,61	21,93%
São Martinho	9,13	5,54	59,69%
El Salvador	8,38	3,14	5,10%
Haiti	8,33	6,42	10,72%
Guatemala	7,94	3,78	46,68%
Honduras	7,32	4,36	64,05%
Bolívia	6,96	3,13	59,84%
Nicarágua	6,62	3,39	66,36%

Com a exceção de Guadalupe, os seis países mais rápidos deste grupo têm velocidades de banda larga fixa mais rápidas do que as de banda larga móvel. Da República Dominicana para baixo na lista, os outros países do grupo têm velocidades de download de banda larga móvel mais rápidas do que as de banda larga fixa.

Chat por vídeo e e-mail

A Venezuela se junta a Cuba na lista de países da América Latina com velocidades de download de banda larga fixa inferiores a 6 Mbps. Apesar disso, ambos os países terem velocidades de download de banda larga móvel mais rápidas do que as de banda larga fixa. Isso é positivo, já que é possível que os residentes precisem usar seus telefones para coisas mais complexas do que simples chats por vídeo ou e-mail.

**Países da América Latina com velocidades móveis abaixo de 6 Mbps**
Dados de Speedtest | T2-T3 2018
País	Veloc. de download (Mbps)	Veloc. de upload (Mbps)	Percentual de diferença na veloc. de download de banda larga móvel em relação a banda larga fixa
Venezuela	3,96	1,50	48,84%
Cuba	3,73	4,07	30,15%

Como vimos com a internet móvel, para muitos países na América Latina seria útil ter um investimento maciço em velocidades de banda larga fixa. Quer dizer, a menos que os provedores estejam prontos para que a banda larga móvel seja o principal veículo que os consumidores usam para acessar a internet.

Desempenho de internet com banda larga móvel e fixa por cidade

Fort-de-France, em Martinica, ocupa a primeira posição no quesito velocidade móvel com bastante vantagem em relação às outras cidades importantes da América Latina. Marigot, em São Martinho, fica em segundo, e Basse-Terre, em Guadalupe, em terceiro. No outro extremo do espectro de redes móveis, a cidade de Havana é a última, seguida por San Salvador, El Salvador e Caracas, na Venezuela.

Desempenho da internet
em cidades latino-americanas
Dados de Speedtest | Q2-Q3 2018
Cidade	Download móvel (Mbps)	Upload móvel (Mbps)	Download fixa (Mbps)	Upload fixa (Mbps)	Percentual de diferença na veloc. de download de banda larga móvel em relação a banda larga fixa
Asunción, Paraguai	14,58	8,57	43,49	8,86	-198,29%
Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe	27,73	8,61	21,20	8,15	23,55%
Belo Horizonte, Brasil	19,00	7,86	28,38	6,62	-49,37%
Bogotá, Colômbia	15,89	9,48	16,46	7,16	-3,59%
Brasília, Brazil	22,20	9,29	29,27	7,79	-31,85%
Buenos Aires, Argentina	16,40	8,53	27,56	5,31	-68,05%
Cali, Colômbia	22,35	12,11	13,10	5,16	41,39%
Caracas, Venezuela	8,83	5,13	5,10	2,04	42,24%
Cayenne, Guaiana Francesa	22,66	7,86	25,32	14,67	-11,74%
Cidade de Guatemala, Guatemala	16,09	10,33	9,60	5,10	40,34%
Cidade de México, México	21,41	11,22	29,81	12,41	-39,23%
Cidade de Panamá, Panamá	12,18	8,82	37,02	7,88	-203,94%
Curitiba, Brasil	22,60	8,31	32,58	17,65	-44,16%
Ecatepec de Morelos, México	16,67	10,35	19,89	3,98	-19,32%
Fort-de-France, Martinica	36,00	10,34	43,60	21,47	-21,11%
Fortaleza, Brasil	18,85	8,63	26,20	10,33	-38,99%
Guayaquil, Equador	23,61	9,43	14,44	9,42	38,84%
Havana, Cuba	4,47	1,26	2,99	3,10	33,11%
La Paz, Bolívia	16,92	11,81	7,16	3,20	57,68%
Lima, Peru	22,23	14,89	27,52	6,66	-23,80%
Managua, Nicarágua	21,04	8,89	6,87	3,52	67,35%
Manaus, Brasil	14,83	7,16	20,92	4,10	-41,07%
Marigot, São Martinho	28,97	9,23	9,62	5,45	66,79%
Medellín, Colômbia	17,58	9,17	14,76	6,87	16,04%
Montevideo, Uruguai	23,30	11,65	38,39	10,12	-64,76%
Port-au-Prince, Haiti	10,08	3,71	8,94	6,63	11,31%
Quito, Equador	21,01	7,75	15,54	11,59	26,04%
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil	22,02	9,02	28,62	10,36	-29,97%
Salvador, Brasil	17,85	7,44	20,43	6,09	-14,45%
San José, Costa Rica	14,69	6,92	12,39	4,74	15,66%
San Juan, Porto Rico	16,05	9,76	50,13	15,64	-212,34%
San Salvador, El Salvador	8,65	4,23	10,26	3,88	-18,61%
Santiago, Chile	16,05	9,35	42,69	12,37	-165,98%
Santo, Domingo, República Dominicana	15,15	8,87	17,86	4,47	-17,89%
São Paulo, Brasil	20,74	8,41	36,54	17,45	-76,18%
Sucre, Bolívia	14,81	11,18	4,86	3,24	67,18%
Tegucigalpa, Honduras	26,24	13,61	7,39	2,91	71,84%

Locais mais densos e urbanos são locais mais fáceis e econômicos para implementar melhorias na infraestrutura móvel, portanto, se as velocidades forem lentas nessas áreas, é um bom sinal de que as velocidades são muito piores em outros lugares do país.

No que diz respeito à banda larga fixa, San Juan, em Porto Rico, ocupa a primeira posição na América Latina, seguida por Fort-de-France, em Martinica, e Asunción, no Paraguai. A cidade com a velocidade de download de banda larga fixa mais lenta dentre as que analisamos é Havana, em Cuba, seguida por Sucre, na Bolívia e Caracas, na Venezuela.

Agora que você sabe a classificação do seu país ou cidade para streaming de vídeo em 4K, streaming de vídeo em HD ou apenas chat por vídeo e e-mail, é hora de descobrir se suas velocidades estão acima ou abaixo da média. Faça o Speedtest no Android, iOS, ou na web e mande um tweet para @speedtest para compartilhar sua experiência.

About the Author

Isla McKetta

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Isla McKetta | July 24, 2019

Touring Mobile Performance with the Speedtest Global Index

Lire en français

At Ookla we celebrate speed and the individuals and companies that dedicate their lives to being the fastest at whatever they do. That’s why this month’s big race in France is so exciting. To cheer all the worn out tires that go into making a great event, we compared the mobile performance of cyclists’ home countries using the Speedtest Global Index^TM. We also looked at download speed in the race’s start and stop cities to see which has the best internet speed advantage.

Which countries’ mobile speeds are breaking away from the main group

The Speedtest Global Index ranks countries based on their download speeds over mobile and fixed broadband. To honor the big race, we narrowed that field to just the countries competing this year and looked at their mobile performance over the past 12 months. We had to leave Eritrea off the list as there were not sufficient samples in the country during the time period to qualify for the Speedtest Global Index.

mobile-performance-chart-final

Mobile speeds in Norway have exploded to the point that they’ve led the pack every single month for the past year. Even when Norway slipped to second in the world for mobile, behind South Korea, they still led all the countries currently touring. Canada’s mobile speeds started strong and rallied to surpass Australia and the Netherlands. These four countries were up in front of the pack for the entire year.

Up next in the chasing group, there was a lot more movement. France started a long climb in September 2018 that took them from 29th in the world for mobile download speed to 17th. This also helped France pass New Zealand and Austria. Belgium started strong but then they fell back in the bunch. The Czech Republic regrouped slightly in April to improve their ranking to a career high of 11, but recently they’ve fallen back to just above where they ranked 12 months ago.

All the way back in the broom wagon, Colombia fell behind early and couldn’t find their second wind. Costa Rica’s decline started later but still left them in second to last place.

Mobile performance in Tour cities

Cyclists and fans are visiting many different cities for the different stages of the race. We compared mean download speeds over mobile in some of the start and stop cities during Q2 2019 to see which were in front and which were chasing. Note that according to the Ookla 5G Map^TM, no cities in France or Belgium have commercially-available 5G as of this writing.

**Mobile Performance in Tour Start and Stop Cities**
Speedtest^Ⓡ Data | Q2 2019
City	Mean Download (Mbps)	Mean Upload (Mbps)
Saint-Étienne, France	60.99	13.08
Reims, France	59.05	13.95
Nancy, France	58.48	14.66
Mulhouse, France	57.60	13.57
Toulouse, France	55.31	12.68
Belfort, France	53.46	13.19
Tarbes, France	53.26	12.92
Pau, France	52.27	13.14
Nîmes, France	51.10	12.84
Rambouillet, France	51.09	12.13
Colmar, France	50.52	13.97
Mâcon, France	48.57	14.42
Paris, France	46.76	11.18
Brussels, Belgium	45.81	16.56
Albi, France	44.49	12.22
Chalon-sur-Saône, France	42.99	12.89
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France	35.44	11.93
Gap, France	27.77	8.24

Saint-Étienne led a tight pack that included Reims, Nancy and Mulhouse which all showed mobile download speeds above 57 Mbps. Toulouse, Belfort, Tarbes, Pau, Nîmes, Rambouillet and Colmar were chasing with mobile download speeds between 50 and 56 Mbps.

We hope that last-place Gap and second-to-last Saint-Dié-des-Vosges were regrouping rather than taking a rest day as they showed mobile download speeds that were significantly slower than the rest of the cities.

Not all locations had sufficient samples to be included in our list, so if you want to know what mobile speeds are like at the Pont du Gard (or anywhere else), take a Speedtest on Android or iOS.

Chapeau to all the teams! May the rest of the race feel flat and fast.

Embarquez pour le tour des performances mobiles avec le Speedtest Global Index

Chez Ookla, nous vouons une véritable passion à la vitesse. Et alors que la Grande Boucle bat son plein en France, nous comptons bien la célébrer comme il se doit ! En parallèle de la lutte acharnée que se livrent les valeureuses équipes, nous avons comparé les performances mobiles des pays d’origine des coureurs en utilisant le Speedtest Global Index^TM. Nous avons également mesuré la vitesse de téléchargement dans les villes-étapes pour découvrir laquelle peut se vanter de disposer du meilleur débit Internet.

Performances mobiles : quels pays s’échappent du peloton ?

Le Speedtest Global Index classe les pays en fonction de leur vitesse de téléchargement haut débit mobile et fixe. Pour rendre hommage au Tour, nous avons uniquement examiné les performances mobiles des pays en lice au cours des douze derniers mois. L’Érythrée n’est malheureusement pas au rendez-vous en raison d’un nombre d’échantillons de données insuffisant.

mobile-performance-chart-final

Grâce à une vitesse de téléchargement mobile ultrarapide, la Norvège a trusté la première place du classement tout au long de l’année. Si le pays a rétrogradé à la deuxième place mondiale juste derrière la Corée du Sud, il a littéralement survolé les débats dans le cadre de notre compétition. De son côté, le Canada a démarré fort, en parvenant même à dépasser l’Australie et les Pays-Bas. Ces quatre pays ont réussi une formidable échappée tout au long de l’année.

Derrière, le groupe de poursuivants s’est organisé pour réduire l’écart. Grâce à une folle remontée en septembre 2018, la France est passée de la 29e à la 17e place mondiale, coiffant au poteau la Nouvelle-Zélande et l’Autriche. Après un très bon départ, la Belgique s’est malheureusement retrouvée engluée dans le peloton. La République Tchèque a mis un petit coup d’accélérateur en avril pour atteindre la 11e place (une première !). Elle a ensuite connu une baisse de régime qui l’a vu terminer juste au-dessus de son classement de l’année dernière.

En queue de peloton, la Colombie a rapidement été distancée et n’est jamais parvenue à trouver un second souffle. Malgré ses bonnes intentions, le Costa Rica a quant à lui fini avant-dernier.

Performances mobiles dans les villes-étapes

Les coureurs et les fans visitent de nombreuses villes lors des différentes étapes du Tour. Nous avons comparé les vitesses moyennes de téléchargement mobile dans certaines de ces villes au cours du deuxième trimestre 2019 afin d’établir un classement. Notez que selon l’Ookla 5G Map^TM, aucune ville de France ou de Belgique ne propose actuellement la 5G.

**Performances mobiles dans les villes-étapes**
Données Speedtest^Ⓡ Data | Deuxième trimestre 2019
Ville	Débit descendant moyen (Mbps)	Débit ascendant moyen (Mbps)
Saint-Étienne, France	60,99	13,08
Reims, France	59,05	13,95
Nancy, France	58,48	14,66
Mulhouse, France	57,60	13,57
Toulouse, France	55,31	12,68
Belfort, France	53,46	13,19
Tarbes, France	53,26	12,92
Pau, France	52,27	13,14
Nîmes, France	51,10	12,84
Rambouillet, France	51,09	12,13
Colmar, France	50,52	13,97
Mâcon, France	48,57	14,42
Paris, France	46,76	11,18
Bruxelles, Belgique	45,81	16,56
Albi, France	44,49	12,22
Chalon-sur-Saône, France	42,99	12,89
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, France	35,44	11,93
Gap, France	27,77	8,24

Au coude-à-coude avec Reims, Nancy et Mulhouse, Saint-Étienne s’est imposée dans un groupe relevé affichant une vitesse de téléchargement mobile supérieure à 57 Mbps. Dans son sillage, Toulouse, Belfort, Tarbes, Pau, Nîmes, Rambouillet et Colmar ont fait bonne figure avec une vitesse comprise entre 50 et 56 Mps.

Gap et Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, respectivement dernier et avant-dernier, n’ont jamais semblé pouvoir suivre le rythme du peloton, avec une vitesse bien inférieure à celle des autres villes.

Faute d’un nombre d’échantillons de données suffisant, cette liste n’est pas exhaustive. Si vous souhaitez connaître la vitesse de téléchargement mobile de Pont du Gard ou de toute autre ville, effectuez un Speedtest sur Android ou iOS.

Un grand bravo à toutes les équipes ! Nous vous souhaitons bonne chance pour le reste de la course !

About the Author

Isla McKetta

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Isla McKetta | September 4, 2019

In-Depth Analysis of Changes in World Internet Performance Using the Speedtest Global Index

A lot has changed in the two years since 2017 when we first began ranking mobile and fixed broadband speeds of countries around the world with the Speedtest Global Index^TM. 5G is being deployed around the world and fiber continues to make gigabit speeds a reality in more and more countries. We’ve been tracking it all and are here to report on how much speeds have increased, which countries are leading internet performance and which are falling behind, and what trends we see across continents.

World mobile speed increased 21.4% with fixed broadband up 37.4%

World-Download-Speeds-2019-OG2

Looking just at the last year, the world’s mean download speed over mobile increased 21.4% from 22.81 Mbps in July 2018 to 27.69 Mbps in July 2019. Mean upload speed over mobile increased 18.1% from 9.13 Mbps to 10.78 Mbps. The world average for download speed over fixed broadband increased 37.4% from 46.48 Mbps in July 2018 to 63.85 Mbps in July 2019. Mean upload speed over fixed broadband increased 48.9% from 22.52 Mbps to 33.53 Mbps.

Shake-ups in the country rankings for internet performance

Fastest-Countries-Mobile-2018-2019

Mobile speeds in the fastest countries have skyrocketed in the past year which has dramatically shifted the rankings. South Korea, which was not even in the top ten a year ago, saw a 165.9% increase in mean download speed over mobile during the past 12 months, in large part due to 5G. Switzerland’s mean download speed increased 23.5%. Canada’s was up 22.2%, Australia 21.2%, the Netherlands 17.3%, UAE 11.1%, Malta 10.3% and Norway 5.8%. Qatar remained in the top ten, although the country’s mean download speed over mobile actually dropped 1.4% from July 2018 to July 2019.

Individual mobile operators can make a huge difference in a country’s speeds. In 2017 we were excited to see Telenor uncap their mobile speeds, which drove Norway to the top of the Speedtest Global Index. A big part of South Korea’s mobile success in the past year is the way KT, LG U+ and SK Telecom banded together to release 5G at the same time. Switzerland has also benefited from 5G and Sunrise leads the country with 262 5G deployments across the country while Swisscomm has 52.

Fastest-Countries-Fixed-2018-2019

Fixed broadband rankings on the Speedtest Global Index have not changed as dramatically during the past 12 months as those on mobile. Singapore remains the fastest country with an increase in mean download speed over fixed broadband of 5.6%. Taiwan had the largest jump in speeds among the top 10 with a 166.5% improvement in fixed download speed between July 2018 and July 2019. Mean download speed over fixed broadband increased 52.4% in South Korea, 26.4% in Macau, 21.7% in Romania, 21.0% in Switzerland, 19.3% in the United States and 3.5% in Hong Kong.

Monaco and Andorra did not have enough tests to qualify for the Speedtest Global Index one year ago, but massive fixed broadband improvements in both countries inspired us to lower our test count threshold for inclusion and also share these smaller countries’ success stories.

Technologies paving the way: 5G and gigabit

The presence of 5G is not enough to change a market

As discussed above, 5G has the potential to rocket a country to the top of the mobile rankings on the Speedtest Global Index. In practice, we’ve seen 5G speeds that were over 1000% faster than those on LTE.

Mobile-Download-Speeds-by-Country

In reality, though, unless 5G is commercially available widely across a country and from all mobile operators (as was the case in South Korea), the change in speeds at the country level is not that significant. Though commercial 5G was launched widely across Switzerland by Sunrise and Swisscom in April 2019, the country’s mean download speed only increased 2.8% in the three months since. The average mobile download speed in the U.S. has actually declined slightly since 5G was initially deployed. This is because 5G is still only available in a very limited number of markets to consumers with 5G-capable devices.

Visit the Ookla 5G Map for the latest on 5G deployments across the globe.

Gigabit is a game-changer, if you can get it

Unlike 5G, fiber connections have been rolling out since 2007, opening up the possibility of gigabit-speed fixed broadband. That said, it’s costly and time-intensive to lay miles and miles of fiber so progress has varied widely across the globe.

Gigabit-Test---Performance_Singapore-1

Geographically small countries like Singapore have the advantage when it comes to fiber, because It’s easier and cheaper to lay fiber optic cable across the country’s small footprint. Singaporean internet service providers (ISPs) have used this advantage to go beyond mere gigabit and offer connections as fast as 10 Gbps. This is reflected both in Singapore’s dominance of the fixed rankings on the Speedtest Global Index and in the fact that 2.87% of their total Speedtest results over fixed broadband are gigabit-speed (800 Mbps or higher).

Gigabit-Test---Performance_Brazil-1

Brazil offers a good contrast for how difficult it can be for gigabit to reach the masses. While the first Brazilian ISP to offer fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) initially did so in 2007, easy access to gigabit speeds was slow to follow. However, that may be starting to change. Between June and July 2019 we saw a large uptick in gigabit-speed results in Brazil, where the proportion of gigabit speed tests increased from 0.02% of total fixed broadband tests to 0.17%. This corresponded with a large increase in mean download speed at the country level.

Comparing world mobile and fixed broadband at a glance

We were curious to see just how different internet performance experiences were around the world, so we plotted average mobile download speed against average download speed on fixed broadband. All of the graphs below use a percentage difference from the global average, a number that changed between 2018 and 2019.

fade-Performance-vs-Global---Quadrant-All

Speed Leaders

There was not much change in the list of countries that showed above-average download speeds on both mobile and fixed broadband between July 2018 and July 2019, the “Speed Leaders.” What did change was that fixed broadband speeds increased significantly enough among the group to bring the whole pack closer to Singapore and Hong Kong. On the mobile axis, South Korea’s major increase in download speed made that country more of an outlier, pushing the boundaries of what great performance can look like.

Fixed-Focused countries

Between July 2018 and July 2019 we saw the number of countries considered to be “Fixed-Focused” (having faster download speeds over fixed broadband than the world average while their average mobile download speeds were slower than average) increase. Ireland was the only country that solidly fit this category in 2018. Thailand and Chile started near the midline for fixed speeds and below-average for mobile speeds in 2018. 2019 found both countries squarely in the Fixed-Focused category. Israel also edged into this category as their mobile download speed fell between July 2018 and 2019.

Mobile-Focused countries

The “Mobile-Focused” category saw the most movement between July 2018 and July 2019 as some countries (the UAE and Qatar) increased their fixed speeds sufficiently to join the Speed Leaders. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s mobile download speed increased year-over-year to move them into the Mobile-Focused quadrant. Georgia’s mobile download speed decreased enough to move them from Mobile-Focused to Speed Laggers.

It will be interesting to see how many of these Mobile-Focused countries double down on their mobile investments and explore 5G alternatives to fixed broadband.

Speed Laggers

No country wants to be in the position of having slower than average mobile and fixed broadband speeds. We saw 57 countries in this “Speed Laggers” quadrant in July 2018 and 78 in July 2019. This increase is mostly due to our expansion of the number of countries we consider for the Speedtest Global Index based on test count. There were enough countries in this category that we’ve considered them separately by continent below.

Regional views of mobile and fixed broadband performance

Mobile-and-Fixed-Broadband-Improvement-by-Continent-02

We aggregated Speedtest results by continent to analyze mobile and fixed broadband performance by continent.

Mobile-and-Fixed-Performance-by-Continent-01

Asia had the highest percentage increase in mobile download speed followed by North America, Oceania, South America, Africa and Europe. Oceania had the fastest mean download speed in July 2019. North America placed second, Europe third, Asia fourth, South America fifth and Africa sixth.

On the fixed broadband side, South America saw the highest percentage increase in download speed. Asia came in second, Europe third, Africa fourth, North America fifth and Oceania sixth. North America had the fastest mean download speed in July 2019. Europe was second, Asia third, and Oceania fourth. As we saw with mobile, South America and Africa again ranked fifth and sixth, respectively.

A zoomed-in view of the speed quadrants separated by continent offers a more detailed view of each country’s role in these rankings.

Africa mostly lags in internet speeds

2019-Performance-vs-Global---Africa

In July 2019, all but two African countries in the Speedtest Global Index fell into the Speed Laggers category, having mobile and fixed broadband speeds that were below global averages. The exceptions were South Africa and Guinea, which both had fast enough mobile speeds to place them in the mobile-focused quadrant.

Asian markets show a wide breadth of internet performance

2019-Performance-vs-Global---Asia

Asia was the most diverse continent we examined in terms of internet performance. We saw a plurality of countries in each of the four quadrants in July 2019. Most of the Speed Leaders were in East Asia: China, Hong Kong (SAR), Japan, Macau (SAR), South Korea, and Taiwan. If we include Singapore, another Speed Leader, these are among the wealthiest nations in Asia (using GDP per capita). Two of Asia’s Fixed-Focused countries are in Southeast Asia (Malaysia and Thailand) and one is in the Middle East (Israel).

The Speed Laggers category contained countries from South Asia (including Afghanistan, India and Pakistan), Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, the Philippines and Vietnam) and the Middle East (Jordan). Mobile-Focused countries in Asia were mostly Middle Eastern, including Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

European mobile performance is mostly strong, fixed varies

2019-Performance-vs-Global---Europe

With the exception of Ireland, the European countries on the Speedtest Global Index fell into the Speed Leaders, Mobile-Focused, and Speed Laggers categories. All of the Speed Laggers (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and the Ukraine) were from Eastern Europe. Countries from Southeast Europe (including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Moldova, Serbia and Slovenia) and Central Europe (Austria and the Czech Republic) made up the bulk of the Mobile-Focused category.

Speed Leaders included countries from the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania), the Nordics (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), Central Europe (Poland and Romania), and Western Europe (including Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain).

North American internet performance is sharply divided

2019-Performance-vs-Global---North-America

Canada and the U.S. are the only two North American countries in the Speed Leaders category. Panama is the only North American country under Fixed-Focused. Mexico and all of the Central American countries fall into the Speed Laggers category. There are no North American countries that are Mobile-Focused.

Each country in Oceania has a very different internet story

2019-Performance-vs-Global---Ocean

Oceania is represented in three of the four quadrants: Speed Leaders (New Zealand), Mobile-Focused (Australia) and Speed Laggers (Papua New Guinea) with Fiji straddling the divide between Speed Laggers and Mobile-Focused.

South America mostly lags in mobile and fixed internet speeds

2019-Performance-vs-Global---South-America

Most of the South American countries represented on the Speedtest Global Index are in the Speed Laggers quadrant (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela). Chile is an exception, being part of the Fixed-Focused group, as is Uruguay which sits in Mobile-Focused.

Global internet speeds are improving on average and 5G and gigabit are compounding those advances where available. However, not all countries are benefitting equally. We’ll be interested to see how 5G continues to push mobile speeds in the next year and also whether 5G Wi-Fi becomes a game changer for fixed broadband. Remember to check the Speedtest Global Index on a monthly basis for updated country rankings. And take a Speedtest to make sure your experience is represented in your country’s averages.

Editor’s Note: This article was edited on September 10, 2019 to correct an error in the labeling on the first image. The colors in a later image were updated for consistency.

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Isla McKetta

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Ookla | March 13, 2020

Tracking COVID-19’s Impact on Global Internet Performance (Updated July 20)

We are no longer updating this article as internet speeds in most countries have stabilized to pre-pandemic levels. For ongoing information about internet speeds in specific countries, visit the Speedtest Global Index^TM or contact our press team.

Ookla^® closely monitored the impact of COVID-19 on the performance and quality of global mobile and broadband internet networks in the early days of the pandemic. We shared regular information based on Ookla data to assist in the understanding of this unprecedented situation. You can still download the July 20, 2020 CSV here which contains all the public data we tracked in this article. If you are looking for information on internet or online service outages, please check Downdetector^®.

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Ookla

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Isla McKetta | August 2, 2022

Find Out Which 50 Top European Vacation Destinations Have the Fastest Mobile Internet Speeds

Vacation season is upon us with millions of tourists already flocking to Europe’s top summer destinations despite the heat. Whether you’re a European looking for the best “staycation” or an American taking advantage of the exchange rates, our analysis of mobile internet performance in 50 popular destinations across the continent should help you see how well you will be able to connect (or disconnect, should you so choose) on vacation this summer.

We divided these towns and cities into four categories that might appeal to different types of travelers: big cities, beach life, cultural havens, and forest getaways. Then we compared Speedtest Intelligence® data for median download speeds and multi-server latency across each category. Of course many of the best vacation destinations belong in multiple categories, so be sure to check each list to find your favorite locale, and you’ll want to remember that your experience may vary based on your carrier’s roaming agreement.

“Big cities” with internet performance as exciting as the lifestyle

Oslo, Norway topped our list of 15 European vacation destinations full of big city excitement with the fastest mobile internet with a median download speed of 156.99 Mbps during Q2 2022. Perfect if you’re planning to do live updates from the Øya Festival. Two other Nordic cities rounded out the top three with Stockholm, Sweden showing a median download speed of 136.74 Mbps and Copenhagen, Denmark coming in at 133.16 Mbps. With speeds like these you should be able to host as many “see how glorious my vacation is?” video calls as you want.

There was a large gap between these three cities and the next fastest group, led by Lisbon, Portugal at 86.49 Mbps. Istanbul, Turkey and Rome, Italy had the lowest median download speeds on this list. These are still adequate mobile speeds, especially if you want to lean into the vacation experience and report back on it later (if ever).

Nicosia, Cyprus had the lowest median multi-server latency on our “big city” list at 17 ms during Q2 2022. This metric measures how quickly your device gets a response after you’ve sent out a request during three stages so you can understand if you’ll run into unnecessary lags in your connection. We’ve previously reported how latency in Europe increased while roaming, and higher latency could mean that you encounter glitches in video calls or even have to shut down apps to get your phone to respond in a timely fashion. Rome had the highest latency on this list.

Where internet speeds are fit for “beach life”

Nothing says summer like relaxing on the beach. If your beach vacation needs fast internet access, surf the web in Biarritz, France and Korčula, Croatia. These two locales had the fastest median download speeds on our beach life list during Q2 2022 at 155.65 Mbps and 133.67 Mbps, respectively, though this is not a statistically significant difference. Varna, Bulgaria and Faro, Portugal rounded out the top four at 104.00 Mbps and 101.74 Mbps, respectively.

Amalfi, Italy and Cefalù, Italy are good beach destinations if you’re looking for encouragement to log off. With median download speeds of 31.40 Mbps and 38.18 Mbps, respectively, during Q2 2022, your internet connection should be adequate (though less inspiring than the Tyrrhenian Sea).

Piran, Slovenia had the lowest median multi-server latency (20 ms) on this list while Cefalù had the highest (56 ms).

“Cultural havens” with research-ready internet speeds

Travelers looking for maximum culture and fast internet speeds can do no better than Tromsø, Norway, which had a median download speed on mobile of 251.52 Mbps during Q2 2022, almost 2.3x faster than runner-up Amsterdam, Netherlands. Whether you’ve traveled to the northernmost bit of Norway for the wooden houses, one of the many summer festivals, or just to escape the heat, you’ll have fast enough internet to thoroughly research all the places you can go if you extend your vacation.

At the other end of the spectrum, if you’re traveling to Yerevan, Armenia or Florence, Italy to enjoy the museums and other cultural highlights of either, you might want to take pictures instead. With median download speeds of 24.11 Mbps and 29.84 Mbps, respectively, these cities were the slowest on this list. All the more reason to immerse yourself in the sights and wait to connect to Wi-Fi before uploading your photos.

Helsingør, Denmark had the lowest median multi-server latency, while Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom had the highest. High latency can impede the performance of your phone even when you’re in an area with great speeds — something to keep in mind if you’re relying on your phone to locate the next Fringe venue.

Navigate internet speeds in “forest getaways”

Some people swear by the forest for the best vacations, especially in the heat of summer. The Alpine cities of Innsbruck, Austria and Digne-les-Bains, France had the fastest median download speeds over mobile on our list of forest getaways during Q2 2022 at 87.34 Mbps and 67.30 Mbps, respectively, though there was no statistical winner between the two. There was also no statistically significant difference between the median download speeds in Zakopane, Poland (43.52 Mbps); Killarney, Ireland (35.90 Mbps); and Sighișoara, Romania (30.48 Mbps). While you may prefer to be offline in the woods, having a strong and fast internet connection available can help you navigate with GPS, check out the names of all the flora you’re encountering, or reach help in case of emergency.

Sighișoara and Killarney had the lowest median multi-server latency on this list at 24 ms and 25 ms, respectively. Digne had the highest latency at 36 ms.

Regardless of where you travel, mobile internet performance will affect your trip. We hope this list prepares you for the getaway you want. If we missed your favorite European vacation destination, take a Speedtest® on Android or iOS to show off your speeds and tweet us your suggestions for next year’s list or share your ideas via this Google form.

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Isla McKetta

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Sylwia Kechiche | February 21, 2023

European 5G Performance Trails its International Peers

The European Union’s Digital Decade target is rather ambitious. It wants gigabit connectivity for everyone and ubiquitous 5G coverage by the end of 2030 to assist with digital transformation. When we reflected on 5G progress last year, we concluded that Europe had fallen behind its international peers. In this article, we will assess 5G progress across Europe.

Europe trails others’ performance. Although more spectrum has been awarded over the past year, European 5G performance trailed the likes of the UAE and South Korea.
5G Availability is on the up. Whilst still behind its international peers, 5G adoption has increased during 2022. This, combined with the greater availability of 5G smartphones and the rollout of 5G networks using low-band spectrum, resulted in higher 5G Availability across most European countries.
A tale of two Europes. In the Nordics and some Eastern European markets (Bulgaria and Cyprus) 5G outperformed the big 5 European economies (U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Italy). Operators call for more consolidation and regulatory intervention to facilitate 5G investment.
A hotbed for private networks. European governments and regulators are keen supporters of enterprise digitization efforts, and 5G is heralded as a key enabler to assist with that. Over 40% of all private networks worldwide are in Europe, a growing proportion of which are utilizing 5G.

Mid-band is most assigned spectrum across Europe

As per the European Commission’s 2016 5G Action Plan, EU countries are meant to make low-band (700 MHz) spectrum available for use by June 30, 2020, and mid- (3.6 GHz) and high-band/mmWave (26 GHz) spectrum by December 31, 2020. At the EU level, there are the so-called 5G pioneer bands. These are the changes compared to when we last reviewed 5G spectrum assignments across Europe:

Four countries still needed to assign spectrum last year. Now, Poland is the only one without dedicated 5G spectrum.
Over the course of last year, three more countries awarded spectrum across all of the 5G pioneer bands, making a grand total of eight countries.
Four more countries awarded spectrum across both low- and mid-band spectrum, tallying up the count to 17.
Mid-band spectrum is the most popular spectrum band, with 28 countries already awarded mid-band spectrum — an additional five to when we last took stock. The remaining countries, Poland and Netherlands, will finally auction the 3.5 GHz spectrum in the summer of 2023.
26 countries auctioned spectrum in the 700 MHz bands, compared to 21 a year ago.
Eight countries have awarded mmWave spectrum thus far. Spain is the only addition in 2022, raising €36 million.

Legacy networks give way to 4G LTE and 5G

5G pioneer bands are not the only frequencies that operators use to deploy 5G. As operators shut down legacy networks, they can refarm sub-3GHz frequencies for 4G LTE or 5G. European operators tend to support 2G in the short term, phasing out 3G networks instead. MNOs also look to optimize their network operations, and the upkeep of legacy networks comes with additional cost and complexity.

The rate of network shutdowns is increasing. So far, across Europe, 21 operators across 11 countries have retired 3G networks compared to only two 2G network shutdowns. 2G is still needed to support M2M/IoT use cases, e.g. ongoing long-term enterprise contracts with utility providers. In contrast, operators see less traffic carried over 3G networks hence the desire to retire them. For example, Magyar Telekom noted 2.3% and 0.84% of total voice and data traffic on the 3G network. Proximus stated that 2% of its data traffic uses 3G, while Telenet/Base shared that 3G devices account for just 1% of its network. Looking ahead, 43 operators across 26 countries announced their plans to switch off 2G networks, and 37 operators in 21 countries will pull the plug on 3G.

5G adoption lags, 5G performance doesn’t impress either

Most European countries have commercial 5G networks in place. However, 5G adoption across Europe lags behind its global peers. According to GSMA Intelligence, in Q4 2022, 5G uptake in Europe accounted for 7.4 % of total mobile connections, a substantial increase over the Q4 2021 level of 2.5%. Across European countries, 5G adoption is at most 21% (Switzerland), compared to 43.1% in the United States, 42.4% in South Korea, China (36.3%), Australia (30.1%), and Japan (28.5%).

Our recent article identified four broad clusters of 5G performance based on Speedtest Intelligence® data. Most European countries achieved median 5G download speeds under 200 Mbps, placing them within the 5G Improvers category. Bulgaria was the only country that made it into the 5G Leaders category, which includes the likes of the UAE, South Korea, Singapore, and Qatar, with a median 5G download speed of 342.71 Mbps, a slight decrease compared to last year (374.90 Mbps in Q4 2021). Five countries made it into the High Performers cluster, achieving a median 5G download speed exceeding 200 Mbps: Sweden, Cyprus, Finland, Denmark, and Norway. Interestingly enough, the big five European economies (U.K., Germany, France, Spain, and Italy) were outperformed by the Nordics and two Southern Eastern European markets (Bulgaria and Cyprus). The Nordics have always played a leading role in European telecoms, but the 5G performance gap between them and the big five points to challenges in those markets.

Across most of Europe, median 5G speeds have actually decreased. This isn’t surprising, as increased adoption leads to higher network congestion, but other factors are at play. Operators feel the pressure of the economic crisis, higher energy costs, and reduced consumers’ spending power. Europe also suffers from fragmentation, low ARPU levels brought about by intense competition, and Capex levels that are half that of the U.S. and Canada. A report by the European Court of Auditors estimates the deployment cost of 5G across all EU member states at around €400 billion. Operators are yet to see additional revenue coming from 5G that can support that level of investment. The optimal market structure and role of governments in supporting the rollout of 5G remains a heavily debated topic as operators’ M&A activities heat up.

Operators’ performance tells an interesting story as there are vast differences between countries and even within a country. The Nordics operators’ 5G performance tends to rank highly compared to other European countries thanks to having access to dedicated 5G spectrum and supportive regulatory environment. Denmark and Sweden have a greater level of network sharing as two operators share Multi-Operator Core Networks (MOCNs) and spectrum. In some countries, operators have to adhere to conditions stipulated by the 5G license, either in terms of network coverage or the number of 5G sites. For example, in France, each operator had to deploy 3,000 5G sites by the end of 2022. Challenger mobile operators often outperform incumbents — strong results from Three in the chart above are proof of that.

5G Availability shows improvement

Given the growth in 5G adoption, not surprisingly, 5G Availability (the percentage of users on 5G-capable devices that spend most of the time with access to 5G networks) has been on the rise too. 5G Availability is a function of 5G network coverage, and 5G tariff and 5G-capable device adoption. At 56%, the U.S. continues to have the highest level of 5G Availability, having started 5G deployment in the 600 MHz (low band) range and with a large pool of customers owning 5G capable devices. The 600 MHz frequency band has further reach compared to 700 MHz and even the LTE mid-band. Within Europe, 5G Availability exceeds 40% in three countries: Cyprus, Switzerland, and Denmark, but the range is broad across those countries. Cyta Cyprus has reached 67.1% 5G Availability in Q4 2022, thanks to extending 5G coverage to 100% of Cypriots. Swisscom ranks highly too, with 61% Availability in Q4 2022. Its 2022 Annual Report notes that the operator covers 99% of the Swiss population with a basic version of 5G (using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing, which borrows capacity from its LTE spectrum) and 74% with 5G + (delivered using mid-band spectrum).

One critical component driving 5G Availability is the affordability and availability of 5G-capable smartphones. According to Counterpoint Research, in Q4 2022, 5G smartphone sales across Europe totaled 26.8 million, equivalent to 67% of total smartphone sales, compared to 84% in North America and 87% across China, Japan, and South Korea. Europe still needs to catch up to other advanced markets in smartphone adoption. Within Europe, there is also wide variation, with Germany at 90%, Sweden at 88%, the UK at 86%, and Eastern European markets at 49%. Over time, smartphone sales will translate into a more extensive installed base of 5G devices and share of overall subscriptions.

A glimmer of hope for 5G investments

As per the EU Commission’s 5G Action plan, operators should extend 5G networks to all urban areas and major roads and railways by 2025 and populated areas by 2030. For Europe to catch up with its peers and to achieve its digital ambitions, it needs more investment. Operators frequently call for a more supportive policy and regulatory ecosystem to stimulate Capex. During Ookla’s Southeast Europe Regulatory Summit, Professor Konstantinos Masselos, President of Hellenic Telecommunications and Post Commission and BEREC Chair 2023, recognized that Europe is still behind the rest of the world, there is a need to fill the gap for investments, and Europe needs to solve demand issues and cost-effectiveness while not forgetting sustainability.

According to Assembly Research, an issue that came to the fore during 2022 was ‘fair share’ – i.e. the idea that tech companies should contribute to telecoms network costs. Many large telcos believe that deploying Europe’s digital infrastructure should be more evenly distributed among those generating traffic (and costs). However, some smaller operators and access seekers, such as MVNOs, are concerned by the possible implications of fair share, arguing that it could create a competitive distortion that puts them at a disadvantage. In addition, an October 2022 report by BEREC found little evidence that large content and application providers should contribute towards the cost of building telecom networks, considering that this model could risk harming Europe’s internet ecosystem.

Nevertheless, the European Commission is considering potential changes to how networks are funded. Commissioner Thierry Breton is poised to launch the EC’s fair share consultation at MWC23, which will reportedly outline proposals on Big Tech’s contribution towards telecoms network costs. Whether the European telcos’ lobbying campaign will bear fruit, only time will tell. But this will also depend on how well telcos outline what ‘fair share’ should look like. In Assembly’s view, the next step is to develop a practical means of implementing fair share, one which telcos have yet to set out in detail. In response to the EC’s forthcoming consultation, the onus is on operators to present compelling, justifiable policy actions, including how contributions to network costs should be calculated and applied.

European regulators support enterprise digitization efforts

Digitization of different sectors of the economy is key to supporting sustainable development and climate goals. However, enterprise requirements differ. Some prefer to retain control over their networks, isolating them from the public network. Private mobile networks play an important role in broader digital transformation and addressing Industry 4.0 objectives. According to GSA, there were 954 private networks globally, of which almost half were in Europe (405). In terms of the number of private networks, the U.S. ranked first internationally, Germany was second, and the U.K. came fourth, followed by Japan, Finland, France, and Sweden. All of these countries embarked on digitization strategies to strengthen their position as manufacturing hubs, and it is no coincidence that these are also the markets where enterprises can purchase dedicated spectrum.

Historically, Wi-Fi has been the connectivity choice for private networks. However, mobile technologies such as 4G LTE and 5G are better suited to Operational Technologies’ network requirements of high volume, high reliability, mobility, and always-on operations. In Europe, almost half of the private networks run on 4G LTE (44%), 21% use a mix of 4G and 5G, with 5G accounting for close to 30% of deployments. As we have noted before, the introduction of industrial chipsets, based on Release 16, scheduled to come to market in 2023, will stimulate the private 5G networks market too.

Furthermore, regulators are creating an encouraging environment for enterprises to deploy their own networks to support their digital transformation targets. A dedicated spectrum for private mobile networks has already been allocated to industry players in France, the U.S., Germany, Japan, and the U.K., among others. Recently, Norwegian regulator Nkom opened up a 3.8 – 4.2 GHz band for interested parties to apply for a license to offer private 5G networks. Germany spearheads the Industry 4.0 movement, with some of the country’s biggest industrial players awarded their own 5G spectrum and experimenting with private 5G networks to address their particular needs. Other countries that look to support their national manufacturers standing in the global marketplace look to follow, as we have discussed the case for private networks in India.

Ookla will be at MWC Barcelona 2023 — visit us at our Stand 2i28 in Hall 2 to talk with us about telco trends and to learn about Ekahau’s private 5G offering. If you are interested in what are the new and exciting use cases as we enter the 5G Advance era, join us at the 5G Futures Summit. In the meantime, please contact us if you’re interested in discovering more about Ookla Speedtest Intelligence and its wealth of fixed and mobile consumer-initiated data and insights.

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Sylwia Kechiche

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Erdem Koc | January 14, 2021

Apple has 5G! But How Fast is the iPhone 12?

Apple’s 5G-capable iPhone 12 is the latest step in the continuous cycle of new technical specifications, new network components, new (or refarmed) radio spectrums and compatible user equipment that aim to deliver enhanced 5G user experience. At Ookla®, we are fortunate to have a front-row seat to observe these advances and we were thrilled when Apple announced its first 5G devices on October 13, 2020. Given the popularity of Apple’s devices, this release marks a major milestone on the way to 5G becoming mainstream.

iPhone 12 launch drives spikes in 5G testing

The daily count of unique devices worldwide that are capable of connecting to 5G jumped dramatically when each new iPhone 12 variant launched. We saw a 138.3% increase when comparing the day the iPhone 12 5G and iPhone 12 Pro 5G were released to the mean of the previous week. On the day the iPhone 12 Mini 5G and iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G launched, there was a further 44.3% increase over that one-day spike.

Daily-Trend_5G-Capable-Devices_Year_0121-1

Pro 5G and Pro Max 5G are the most popular iPhone 12 models

We examined Speedtest® results from the launch date of each model through the end of the year to see which iPhone 12 models are the most popular in 15 major cities across the globe. We found that most Speedtest users have opted for the “Pro” models. The iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G showed the highest number of samples among iPhone models in Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, New York, Riyadh and Sydney. The iPhone 12 Pro 5G showed the most samples in London, Madrid, Rome, Helsinki, Zürich, Berlin, Amsterdam, Seoul and Tokyo. While the more affordable models were less popular than the Pro models across all the cities on our list, the iPhone 12 Mini saw the most adoption in Tokyo and the iPhone 12 5G saw the most adoption in Rome.

iPhone-12-Model-Popularity_0121

Seoul tops list of iPhone 12 5G speeds

We analyzed Speedtest Intelligence® data for iPhone 12 devices in the same 15 cities and found that Seoul had the fastest median speed over 5G, followed by Dubai and Riyadh. Seoul also had the fastest upload speed by a considerable margin. This is not a surprise given reports that there are more than 100K 5G base stations in South Korea. It is interesting to note that European cities are relatively close to each other in terms of median download and upload speeds. That is good news for the 5G action plan of the European Commission and their target of having uninterrupted 5G coverage on major terrestrial transport paths by 2025.

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_0121

Each of these markets utilizes its own unique approach to 5G. Today, the United States is the only market where iPhone 12 models support 5G high-bands, namely n260 and n261. This is to support existing commercial 5G deployments in the mmWave spectrum across all three Tier 1 operators.

Elsewhere on the globe mid-band (specifically the 3300-3800 MHz range in most countries) is the most common frequency range for initial 5G roll-outs. There are several reasons for this, ranging from principles of electromagnetic wave propagation to marketing strategies. High-band frequency ranges (above 24 GHz with 400-800 MHz contiguous bandwidth) can do wonders in terms of download speeds, but due to limited propagation characteristics, it can be challenging to provide a mmWave coverage layer across entire markets. In order to mitigate this well-known challenge, operators tend to rely on the lower frequency bands for coverage and selectively deploy mmWave applications in targeted areas (such as high-traffic locations).

Depending on market dynamics and spectrum availability, most providers choose non-standalone (NSA) 5G configuration with an LTE anchor. Operators with limited amounts of FR1 spectrum tend to use dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS), a feature which allows both LTE and New Radio (NR) operation on the same slice of spectrum at the same time. This feature enables a relatively easy deployment of 5G coverage layers, and is a stepping stone to standalone 5G (5G SA). In addition to these commonly observed strategies, a few operators are considering pushing the limits of digital convergence with open radio access networks (RAN).

No matter which strategy an operator chooses, one important fact about 5G does not change: access to a trio of low, mid and high bands and a strategy for rolling out 5G SA is critical. Deployment of the 5G SA core unlocks the potential of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (uRLLC) and massive machine type communications (mMTC).

Operator breakdown: iPhone 12 performance in select cities

5G deployments vary greatly from country to country, depending on spectrum allocated and the particular channel bandwidths each operator has deployed. This makes comparisons between countries difficult, as these factors directly impact the peak 5G speeds achievable in that market. However, looking at four major cities, we can see that performance by operator also varies.

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Seoul_0121

In Seoul, the fastest city for 5G on the list above, the 3.5 GHz (Band n78) is used with 80 to 100 MHz channels per operator, and B2C mmWave (which would add a whopping 800 MHz channels per operator) is on the horizon. Here, LG U+ showed the fastest median download speed over 5G on the iPhone 12 in Seoul at 625.03 Mbps. SK Telecom was second and KT third.

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Hong-Kong_0121

The three Hong Kong mobile operators that launched commercial 5G networks on April 1, 2020 ranked fastest for iPhone 12 5G median download speed rankings in Hong Kong. China Mobile HK, the only 5G network provider in Hong Kong that has acquired 3.3 GHz (3380-3400 MHz) and 3.5 GHz (3400-3460 MHz) continuous bandwidth spectrum was the fastest of these three at 212.77 Mbps. CSL and 3 Hong Kong were a close second and third, respectively. SmarTone, which launched its 5G network a month later, was fourth.

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Amsterdam0121

The 3.5 GHz band is not yet available in the Netherlands, but this did not slow down Dutch operators in launching their commercial 5G networks in 2020. According to Speedtest Intelligence data, KPN Mobile was comfortably at the top, with a median download speed of 211.80 Mbps over 5G using the iPhone 12 in Amsterdam during Q4 2020. T-Mobile was second and Vodafone third.

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Madrid_0121

While Spanish operators currently benefit from the n78 band, the next step is expected to be the delayed addition of low bands (700 MHz). In Madrid, Vodafone showed the fastest median download speed over 5G using the iPhone 12 during Q4 2020 at 232.51. Orange was second fastest, Yoigo third and Movistar at fourth.

We will continue to monitor how Apple’s 5G-capable devices impact the global market. Contact us to learn more about how Speedtest Intelligence can help you understand the latest developments in your market.

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Erdem Koc | February 22, 2021

Revisiting iPhone 12 5G Performance Across the Globe

As we previously covered, the iPhone 12 is finally allowing Apple enthusiasts to connect to 5G. We’re back with fresh data to see how user adoption and new 5G rollouts have affected performance worldwide.

Unique 5G-capable device counts have leveled off

After the launch of various iPhone 12 models, the daily count of unique devices worldwide that are capable of connecting to 5G spiked significantly compared to the year as a whole. The daily trend of unique 5G-capable devices as a percentage of the whole year is dramatically higher than before the iPhone 12 models launched, but has remained relatively steady since December.
Daily-Trend_5G-Capable-Devices_Year_0221

Pro 5G and Pro Max 5G are the most popular iPhone 12 models

We looked again at Speedtest® results from the launch date of each model, this time including data through the end of January, to see which iPhone 12 models are the most popular. This time we added five additional cities for a total of 20 major cities across the globe. We still found that most Speedtest users have opted for the “Pro” models.

The iPhone 12 Pro Max 5G showed the highest number of samples among iPhone models in Bangkok, Kuwait City, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Hong Kong, New York, London, Madrid and Sydney. This was a change for both London and Madrid, which had previously had more samples from the iPhone 12 Pro 5G.

The iPhone 12 Pro 5G showed the most samples in Seoul, Zürich, Berlin, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Helsinki, Rome, Barcelona and Tokyo. While the more affordable models were less popular than the Pro models across all the cities on our list, the iPhone 12 Mini saw the most adoption in Tokyo and the iPhone 12 5G saw the most adoption in Rome and Madrid.
iPhone-12-Model-Popularity_0221

Seoul tops list of iPhone 12 5G speeds

As before, we analyzed Speedtest Intelligence® data for iPhone 12 devices in these 20 cities and found that Seoul had the fastest median speed over 5G, followed by several of the major cities of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely Kuwait City, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh.

It is also interesting to observe that, in the highly dynamic European market where many different network rollout approaches are possible, 5G download speeds in seven of nine European cities fell between 135-160 Mbps range on the iPhone 12. Helsinki and Warsaw were the exceptions in Europe, with 241.98 and 61.14 Mbps median download speeds, respectively.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_0221

Operator breakdown: iPhone 12 performance in select cities

We also expanded our operator analysis to 10 cities. The following charts include median 5G speeds over iPhone 12 models of top operators with sufficient samples.

Operator rankings did not change in the four cities we previously analyzed. LG U+ in Seoul, China Mobile Hong Kong in Hong Kong and KPN Mobile in Amsterdam still had the fastest median 5G download speeds over the iPhone 12 in their local markets.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Seoul_0221-1

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Hong-Kong_0221

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Amsterdam_0221

iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Madrid_0221

Barcelona showed similar speeds by operator to those in Madrid. We could not yet determine whether Vodafone or Orange’s 5G networks were fastest for iPhone 12, but both providers had a solid lead over Movistar in both Madrid and Barcelona.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Barcelona_0221

United Arab Emirates was the fastest country for mobile according to the January 2021 Speedtest Global Index^™. As the capital and the second most populous city in the country, Abu Dhabi contributed to this average with median 5G download speeds of 396.06 Mbps on the iPhone 12 for Etisalat and 211.83 Mbps for du.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Abu-Dhabi_0221

In Bangkok, AIS showed the highest median 5G download speed over the iPhone 12 at 362.68 Mbps. TrueMove H followed at 242.22 Mbps. These two operators also had the highest number of Speedtest results over iPhone 12 among all operators analyzed for this article. Another popular operator in the region, DTAC, is not included in the chart due to limited iPhone 12 5G samples.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Bangkok_0221

Data from Speedtest Intelligence reveals that Sunrise had the fastest median 5G download speed over iPhone 12 by a considerable margin at 328.32 Mbps.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Zurich_0221

Telekom in Berlin comfortably had the fastest median 5G download speed over iPhone 12 at 249.16 Mbps.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Berlin_0221

As mentioned above, median 5G speeds over iPhone 12 lagged in Warsaw when compared with other European cities analyzed. This is likely due to the fact that the auction of 3.4-3.8 GHz bands did not take place as planned in Poland because of the pandemic. As of this analysis, Orange and T-Mobile’s 5G speeds for iPhone 12 devices were faster than Play, which trailed with 42.53 Mbps. We also saw 5G tests from Plus in Speedtest Intelligence, but the operator is not included in the above chart due to lack of iPhone 12 samples compared to other operators.
iPhone-12-5G-Median-Speeds_Warsaw_0221

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Erdem Koc

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Reimagining In-Building Cellular

Ookla Joins Ericsson's Leading Telecommunications Open RApp System

GOOOOAL: Which World Cup Finalist Scored the Fastest Internet in their Capital City?

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Isla McKetta

Comparing Mobile Markets in South America’s Largest Economies

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Which South American country has the fastest mobile speeds?

Mobile speeds in South America’s largest cities

How forward-looking carriers are improving their infrastructure (and speeds)

Avantel (Colombia)

Bitel (Peru)

Claro (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru)

Entel Movil (Chile, Peru)

Movilnet (Venezuela)

Movistar (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela)

Nextel (Brazil)

Oi (Brazil)

Personal (Argentina)

Telefonica Brasil (Brazil)

TIM Brasil (Brazil)

Tigo (Colombia)

WOM (Chile)

About the Author

Isla McKetta

Uncovering Which Latin American Countries have Adequate Internet Speeds (and Which Do Not)

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Which country has the fastest mobile speeds in Latin America?

4K Video Streamers

HD Streamers

Video Chat and Email

Fixed broadband

4K Video Streamers

HD Streamers

Video Chat and Email

Mobile and broadband internet performance at a city level

Revelamos qué países de América Latina tienen velocidades de Internet adecuadas (y cuáles no)

¿Cuál es el país de América Latina que tiene las velocidades móviles más rápidas?

Transmisores de video en 4K

Transmisores en HD

Videollamada y correo electrónico

Banda ancha fija

Transmisores de video en 4K

Transmisores en HD

Videollamada y correo electrónico

Rendimiento de Internet por banda ancha fija y móvil en las ciudades

Revelando quais países da América Latina têm velocidade de internet adequada (e quais não têm)

Qual país tem a maior velocidade de internet móvel na América Latina?

Streamers de vídeo em 4K

Streamers de HD

Chat por vídeo e e-mail

Banda larga fixa

Streamers de vídeo em 4K

Streamers de HD

Chat por vídeo e e-mail

Desempenho de internet com banda larga móvel e fixa por cidade

About the Author

Isla McKetta

Touring Mobile Performance with the Speedtest Global Index

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Which countries’ mobile speeds are breaking away from the main group

Mobile performance in Tour cities

Embarquez pour le tour des performances mobiles avec le Speedtest Global Index

Performances mobiles : quels pays s’échappent du peloton ?

Performances mobiles dans les villes-étapes

About the Author

Isla McKetta

In-Depth Analysis of Changes in World Internet Performance Using the Speedtest Global Index

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World mobile speed increased 21.4% with fixed broadband up 37.4%