In the age of modernisation, technology has been a primary source of functionality even in our work life. Whether it is messages to be received over e-mail, having to send electronic documents to colleagues or even building up a career in the online market, the use of internet goes a long way for the digitalised generation. However, one travelling abroad might notice that the operation of said internet might differ ever so slightly. There are, actually, a vast majority of reasons contributing to this slight change of performance and most of them are based on the economic environment of different countries.
While the average global speed o the internet is rising exponentially over time, there still remains large disparities between countries over the functionality of their internet operations. With about a 15-20% rise in the global average internet speed in contrast with the previous year, it has been discerned that developed nations have contributed to the growth by the largest ratio. In fact, South Korea has the fastest mobile internet in the world according to Tonymappedit.com. The cause behind this has been attributed to the high-standard infrastructure that such countries harbour in their maximum capacity, marking out how they have the latest technology easily at hand for them. In comparison, economies that have alarming problems with infrastructure, or the lack thereof, are at the end of the stick as their internet will typically have fluctuating speeds and aren’t the most convenient to use. Therefore, Yemen has been identified as a country with the slowest internet speed, with their average speed barely surpassing the mark of 0.38Mbps. For more information, you can see the map here:
The population density of an economy also plays a key role in determining the average internet speed incurred by users. In general, those countries that have a condensed population density and have developed infrastructure will enjoy the bliss of an ultra high-speed internet, boosting their productivity levels by a distinctive number when compared to other countries. The reason behind this specific determination is the Internet Exchange Points (IXP) which works in accordance with the provision of specific bandwidth. Internet service providers typically use these bandwidths and allocate and broadcast it to internet users, where such users will receive improved internet speed if the IXP number is greater. Here, simple economics takes the stage as demand and supply plays a large role in regulating the allocative bandwidth number of the IXP. Thus, countries with a small number of people living in closely packed areas will receive greater amounts of bandwidth as the supply is sufficient enough to satisfy the demand.
The internet has been an inexhaustible as well as invaluable resource for the 21st century to use. From its initiation, the internet has worked to drive up economic conditions as well significantly increase productivity statuses of certain countries as consumers and producers are equally open to an international market, without ever having to leave their homes. For this, it has been a constant advocate for globalisation, being the fundamental pedestal for organisations and economies along with them, to transgress more easily into the global market. Furthermore, controversial economic activities such as price discrimination and asymmetrical information within the market has face an incredible decline. It has been constantly deemed the ‘tool of the new century’ and it has worked hard up to that title, for the advancements it has brought is vital and visible. Thus, owing to this, it is quite necessary for economies to prioritise internet and its speed for their citizens to properly use this essential tool and help their economy to grow further in return.