If you live in the US then you’re paying more money for slower internet speeds, a new report has revealed.
The study, conducted by the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation, analysed the cost compared to the speed of internet provided in 24 cities around the world, with Seoul, South Korea coming out on top of the list with download speeds of 1000 megabits per second for $30 per month, whereas the average US download speed is just 9.8 megabits.
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The huge disparity between connection speeds around the world is shocking, and though there are some US cities which provide 1000Mbps, they’re much more costly than those found around the rest of the world, with Chattanooga, Tennessee and Kansas City, Missouri providing 1000Mbps for $70 per month, while Lafayette, Louisiana provides the same speed for $110.
According to the study New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles have 500Mbps internet speeds available to them, though they’re priced at a huge $300 per month.
The report, dissected by CNN, states: “Especially in the U.S., many of the improved plans are at the higher speed tiers, which generally are the most expensive plans available. The lower speed packages – which are often more affordable for the average consumer – have not seen as much of an improvement.”
So despite the US being one of the most developed countries in the Western world, it’s still suffering from choked internet speeds being sold at an extortionate price. Fortunately, Google is spearheading a project to bring high-speed fiber networks to a number of cities throughout the country, though American internet users should only expect to see affordable 1000Mbps connection speeds in the very distant future.
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