Where in the world is the cheapest broadband plan?

21 Nov 2017

Image: Aris Suwanmalee/Shutterstock

A new study shows the average broadband prices in 196 countries and territories.

Broadband is viewed by many people and organisations as a human right, but no two monthly plans are the same, and this varies even more when it comes to different countries and territories.

In a survey conducted earlier in 2017 by BDRC Continental and broadband comparison site Cable.co.uk, it was found that sub-Saharan Africa is the most costly region in terms of monthly fees.

Countries such as Angola, Mali, Somalia and Zimbabwe all see average monthly prices clock in at more than €100 per month, while the most expensive fixed line connection plan is in Burkina Faso, at an eye-watering €818.63 per calendar month.

Users in Papua New Guinea pay €508.58 per month on average as the second most expensive place in the world, while Namibia took the third spot at €372.09 per month.

In terms of the cheapest places in the world, Iran sits at the No 1 spot, where average broadband costs residents €4.58 per month. Ukraine came in second place (€4.69), with Russia in third at €8.42 per month.

Many of the cheapest prices in the world can be found in former Soviet Union countries such as Belarus, Georgia and Moldova.

EU statistics

Looking at the EU member states, Polish users can take advantage of the cheapest average monthly price of just €16.16.

Ireland was the sixth most expensive developed country in the world for broadband, with users here spending €60.57 on average per month for fixed line broadband.

The five developed countries more expensive than Ireland are Malta, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland. In the UK, broadband works out at €34.59 per month.

The top three cheapest countries in western Europe are Italy (€24.53), Germany (€28.96) and Denmark, whose residents pay €30.50 on average for their monthly package.

Dan Howdle, consumer telecoms analyst at Cable.co.uk, told The Irish Times: “Our data demonstrates that when it comes to broadband, both the national marketplace and the infrastructure that underpins it are imperfect, no matter where you live.”

The findings from the report demonstrate the continuing digital divide, particularly in countries where only a wealthy section of the population can access a broadband connection.

Ellen Tannam was a journalist with Silicon Republic, covering all manner of business and tech subjects

editorial@siliconrepublic.com