Global Patterns of Broadband Pricing

Over a number of years, Communications Chambers has prepared data sets of fixed and mobile broadband pricing around the world. (The most recent iteration is available here).

In this paper, we analyse the data we collected, looking at a range of issues including:

• How prices vary with GDP per capita
• The dynamism of different markets, based on the rate of change of tariffs
• How the unit cost of mobile data varies with data allowance, and how the marginal cost of fixed bandwidth varies
• The global distribution of fixed broadband line speed offered

Google International Broadband Pricing Study

Google have published our analysis on international fixed and mobile broadband prices.

The dataset (the fourth iteration we have prepared for Google) includes over 5,000 fixed and mobile broadband tariffs, from over 100 countries. 

You can access the datasets here.

Mobile as a tool for Digital Inclusion

Robert Kenny and Claire Milne have published a paper (funded by Vodafone) looking at the drivers of Digital Exclusion in the UK, and mobile's relevance as a tool to help people get online.

Several developments in the market, including the the general transition to a 'mobile first' internet and the increasing proportion of those offline who currently have limited interest in getting online, suggest that new tools, and in particular mobile, will be important for addressing Digital Exclusion.

Mobile First, Fibre as Required - The case for 'Fibre to 5G' (FT5G)

In this report for Deutsche Telekom, Brian Williamson sets out the case for a 'fibre to 5G' (ft5g) vision, instead of an overly narrow and backwards looking focus on fibre all the way to the home.

Application providers are already taking a 'mobile first' approach, and those interested in telecoms networks should shift their attention to providing ubiquitous wireless connectivity.

Out-of-home internet use

In this study for the Broadband Stakeholders Group, we considered patterns of out-of-home use of the internet. Rather than focusing on mobile device usage (which includes much in-home traffic) or mobile network traffic (which excludes other forms of out-of-home use, such as wifi hotspot usage), this study seeks to quantify out-of-home use.

We also look at drivers and limits to growth, and the relative importance of bandwidth growth and unit price declines.

Report: Out of home use of the Internet

BSG Press release