Telecompetitor Arches

Akamai: Average U.S. Broadband Speed Rises to 18.7 Mbps

The average U.S. broadband speed was 18.7 Mbps in the first quarter of 2017, according to the latest Akamai State of the Internet report released today. That’s an 8.8% increase over the previous quarter and a 22% increase over the same period a year earlier. The U.S. currently ranks 10th worldwide measured by average broadband speed, behind nine Asian and European countries, Akamai said.

Just under half (48%) of U.S. broadband connections were at speeds above 15 Mbps, including 21% that were at speeds above 25 Mbps.

Average U.S. Broadband Speed by State
For the purposes of the Akamai report,  the District of Columbia is considered a state – and as such, it had the highest average broadband speed nationwide, measured at 28.1 Mbps in first quarter, up 5.2% over the previous quarter and up 17% over the same period a year ago. Delaware, which often takes first place in Akamai’s ranking, came in second and was followed by seven other eastern states. In tenth place was the only non-eastern state in the top 10 — Utah, which had an average broadband speed of 20.7 Mbps.

Not surprisingly, the District of Columbia also had the highest percentage of broadband users connecting at speeds above 25 Mbps – 38%. Delaware came in second here, too, and again was followed by seven other eastern states. In tenth place at 24% was Washington – the only non-eastern state in the top 10.

Rhode Island had the highest percentage of broadband users connecting at speeds above 15 Mbps – 66%. The other nine states in the top 10 also were in the eastern U.S.

Although not in the top 10, Michigan and Connecticut – as well as the top 10 states – had at least 50% of broadband users connecting at speeds above 15 Mbps, Akamai said.

SIMILAR STORIES

Computer
Broadband Grows, but the Digital Divide Remains: Study
Learn more about this post
Report
Building Customer Advocates via Speed and Price: Rural Broadband Subscriber Study
Learn more about this post
Caller annoyed by robocalls
Robocall Volume Surges Nearly 13% Year-Over-Year: Report
Learn more about this post