NZ high on OECD wireless broadband league table

Wireless broadband. Source: OECD. Click graph to enlarge.

Fixed-line broadband. Source: OECD. Click graph to enlarge.

Just released figures from the OECD, released today for the period June 2010 - June 2011 - show New Zealand making a splash in the international broadband charts.

NZ sits at 12 for wireless broadband, with 54 inhabitants per 100 on mobile or fixed-wireless broadband internet connection. 

"New Zealand saw a rapid rise in both fixed and wireless broadband, moving to 12th from 16th in the wireless broadband ranking, boosted by the entry of a third mobile network operator, 2Degrees, in 2010," said the agency in commentary with the results.

In fixed line broaband, New Zealand is at number 17 - the same position as last year, although the number on landline broadband connections has risen from 24.4 per 100 to 26 per 100 - putting us above the OECD average for the first time.

The OECD statistics for New Zealand are based on NZ-government supplied figures.

Following its most recent survey of ISPs (for June 2010 - June 2011), Statistics NZ said the broadband subscribers (including wireless options) increased by 14%, to almost 1.5 million between June 2010 and June 2011.

Statistics NZ also found that 1.9 million Kiwis had some level of internet access through a mobile phone. The period was the first time the agency had surveyed mobile internet use.

Telecommunications Users Association (Tuanz) chief executive Paul Brislen said the OECD numbers were excellent news.

"Tuanz has long championed NZ's move into the top half of the OECD and we're keen on seeing NZ make it into the top ten as soon as possible. The economic and social benefits of connectivity are well proven and it's good to see us progressing so well," Mr Brislen said.

"The next step is to address those customers who want broadband but can't get it either in fixed-line form or mobile. Regional and rural customers need to be able to connect as readily as their urban counterparts and that has to be our goal for the next 12 to 24 months."