Broadband speeds in UK are slower than Slovakia

BRITAIN may be one of the most developed nations in the world – but it takes longer to download a film in Surrey than in Slovenia or Slovakia.

The UK ranks 31st in a study of internet speeds in 189 countries.

It takes more than an hour to download an average movie in Britain, where broadband speeds average 16.51 megabits per second (mbps).

In Singapore, which has the fastest internet worldwide at 55.3mbps, you could download the same film in less than 19 minutes.

Swathes of Eastern Europe have faster internet. In Latvia, movie lovers could download a film in around half the time it would take in the UK, while Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania also outpace Britain.

Further afield, Thailand also offers faster speeds.

Technology experts said the findings, compiled by comparison website Cable.co.uk, will heap pressure on the Government to invest in bringing the broadband network up to scratch.

Matthew Hare, chief executive of Gigaclear, which provides ultrafast broadband to rural areas, said: ‘It really does draw attention again to the fact that the UK needs further investment into its ultrafast broadband infrastructure.’

But spare a thought for those in countries at the bottom of the table, such as Yemen, where internet speeds are so slow it takes more than 50 hours to download a movie.