Broadband download speed should be at least 10Mbps, says new research

According to a new research, consumers expect a minimum of 10 Mbps download speeds from their broadband connections.

Ovum, a technology research and advisory firm, combined a consumer survey with quantitative market data on the fixed broadband market in 30 countries to measure consumer expectations of broadband experience.

The definition of broadband Internet differs from market to market. The US Federal Communications Commission defines broadband as Internet connections with a minimum download speed of 25 Mbps, whereas the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) puts the minimum speed for broadband Internet at 512 kbps.

The research also found that consumers expect no longer than a 3 second wait time for content to be delivered.

"Ever since broadband services were launched, there has been discussion on what is the definition of broadband and how much speed do consumers really need? In 2015, the answer is at least 10 Mbps if you wish to receive a good-quality broadband experience, and a significant number of households, even in well-developed broadband countries, are well shy of this mark," says Michael Philpott, Practice leader, consumer services at Ovum and co-author of the report.

The research found, globally, Sweden scored the highest level of broadband experience of the 30 countries researched, while regionally Europe came out on top. India was ranked 24th among 30 countries with a score of 44%.