We’re more connected but slowing

South Korea is setting the benchmark for the rest of the world with internet speeds nearly three times faster than in Australia.

AUSTRALIANS love to have a whinge over our slow internet speeds and overpriced plans, but our perpetual complaining might be more than just a favourite national pastime.

According to the third edition of the Digital Australia: State of the Nation report, Australia has fallen two places in the World Economic Forum’s Networked Readiness Index.

Australia now sits 18th in a list of 139 countries on the index that measures the impact of information and communications technologies (ICT) on the economy and society.

Despite our score remaining the same as it was in 2014, we have slipped in the global rankings because other countries have become more technologically advanced.

“Australia scored well in individual usage of ICT, with the world’s 10th highest penetration of mobile broadband,” the report read.

“However, it was brought down by the cost of fixed broadband. Affordability is Australia’s lowest performing digital readiness aspect, currently ranked at 57th in the world.”

Even with Australia’s average fixed broadband speeds reaching a record high 11.1Mbps, our distance from the top of the global leaderboard has widened, leaving us ranked 50th in the world.

New Zealand’s average fixed broadband speeds of 14.7Mbps put it 27th.

South Korea is setting the benchmark for the rest of the world with internet speeds nearly three times faster than Australia’s.

“Assuming that the average download speed remains consistent, a 1.74 gigabyte standard definition video file would take approximately eight minutes to download in South Korea and close to 21 minutes in Australia,” the report states.

We are better positioned for mobile broadband, with average download speeds of 15.7 Mbps ranking us 11th.

When focused on the NBN, 63% of Australians support the rollout and believe our country needs major digital infrastructure programs in place to ensure a world class digital economy.

On the surface this optimism seems promising, but since 2014 the number of Australians complaining the NBN is worse than expected has almost doubled.

The NBN being slower than expected/not being satisfied with the speed was the biggest gripe of customers.

Unreliable connection and no improvement to previous internet service were close behind.