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Version 0	Version 1
UK broadband 'not fit' for future	UK broadband 'not fit' for future
2009-10-01 01:12:20 UTC	2009-10-01 07:04:56 UTC (about 6 hours later)
A global study of broadband puts the UK 25th out of 66 countries in terms of the quality of its broadband networks.	A study of the global state of broadband has put the UK 25th out of 66 countries in terms of the quality of its networks.
The research, conducted on behalf of Cisco, set out to offer a comprehensive view of the state of global broadband.	The research for Cisco found that countries such as Latvia and Bulgaria were better prepared than the UK for next-generation net applications.
It also found that countries such as Latvia and Bulgaria were better prepared than the UK for next-generation net applications.	The UK was listed among countries whose broadband is "meeting needs for today".
Korea and Japan continue to dominate the league table, largely due to their commitment to fast networks.	Korea and Japan continue to dominate the league table, largely due to their commitment to fast networks.
In Korea, for example, the government has promised universal speeds of up to 1Gbps (gigabit per second) by 2012.	In Korea, for example, the government has promised universal speeds of up to 1Gbps (gigabit per second) by 2012.
Despite not being ready for future applications, the UK was well placed to cope with today's network demands, the study found.	Despite not being ready for future applications, the UK was well placed to cope with today's network demands, the study found.
LEADERS IN BROADBAND QUALITY South KoreaJapanHong KongSwedenSwitzerlandNetherlandsSingaporeLuxembourgDenmarkNorway	LEADERS IN BROADBAND QUALITY South KoreaJapanHong KongSwedenSwitzerlandNetherlandsSingaporeLuxembourgDenmarkNorway
"It can be a bit misleading to look at the rankings. The important thing is whether the broadband quality of a country is good enough for today's needs and the UK falls well within this category," said Joanne Hughes, Cisco's communication manager.	"It can be a bit misleading to look at the rankings. The important thing is whether the broadband quality of a country is good enough for today's needs and the UK falls well within this category," said Joanne Hughes, Cisco's communication manager.
She expects the UK to improve dramatically next year.	She expects the UK to improve dramatically next year.
"We forecast the UK will improve because of things such as cable networks being upgraded and the Digital Britain report focusing on next generation access," she said.	"We forecast the UK will improve because of things such as cable networks being upgraded and the Digital Britain report focusing on next generation access," she said.
The study was conducted jointly by Oxford University's Säid Business School and the University of Oviedo's Department of Applied Economics.	The study was conducted jointly by Oxford University's Säid Business School and the University of Oviedo's Department of Applied Economics.
It found that the average global download speed globally was 4.75Mbps (megabits per second), while average upload speed was 1.3Mbps.	It found that the average global download speed globally was 4.75Mbps (megabits per second), while average upload speed was 1.3Mbps.
Future demands	Future demands
Researchers worked out how fit countries were to cope with the demands of today's users based on a set of applications consumers are likely to use.	Researchers worked out how fit countries were to cope with the demands of today's users based on a set of applications consumers are likely to use.
These included sharing photos, using video on Skype, watching YouTube and standard definition BBC iPlayer content.	These included sharing photos, using video on Skype, watching YouTube and standard definition BBC iPlayer content.
It found that two-thirds of the 66 countries met the criteria for today's requirements.	It found that two-thirds of the 66 countries met the criteria for today's requirements.
But only nine countries, including Korea, Japan, Sweden, Latvia were ready for future demands, such as watching high definition video.	But only nine countries, including Korea, Japan, Sweden, Latvia were ready for future demands, such as watching high definition video.
This is a big improvement on last year's study which found only Japan was ready for the future.	This is a big improvement on last year's study which found only Japan was ready for the future.
Researchers estimated that countries would need an average download speed of 11.25Mbps and an upload speed of 5Mbps in order to be comfortably placed for future applications.	Researchers estimated that countries would need an average download speed of 11.25Mbps and an upload speed of 5Mbps in order to be comfortably placed for future applications.
New applications	New applications
The research was based on 24 million speed tests done in 66 countries via speedtest.net.	The research was based on 24 million speed tests done in 66 countries via speedtest.net.
The test focused on download speeds, upload speeds and latency - the delay that happens as information is routed around the net.	The test focused on download speeds, upload speeds and latency - the delay that happens as information is routed around the net.
Researchers combined these results with the broadband penetration in individual countries to create its quality index.	Researchers combined these results with the broadband penetration in individual countries to create its quality index.
"Most studies are based just on broadband penetration or, if they look at speed they look at advertised speeds rather than real speeds," said Ms Hughes.	"Most studies are based just on broadband penetration or, if they look at speed they look at advertised speeds rather than real speeds," said Ms Hughes.
"We wanted to look at the issue of broadband quality which is vital as new applications come along," she added.	"We wanted to look at the issue of broadband quality which is vital as new applications come along," she added.
"We also looked at broadband penetration because there is no point having good quality networks if they are not widely available," she said.	"We also looked at broadband penetration because there is no point having good quality networks if they are not widely available," she said.
CISCO BROADBAND STUDY-->
Ready for tomorrow	Comfortable for today	Meeting needs for today	Below needs for today
CISCO BROADBAND STUDY-->
Ready for tomorrow	Comfortable for today	Meeting needs for today	Below needs for today
SOURCE: Said Business School and University of Oviedo	SOURCE: Said Business School and University of Oviedo