Knowing which countries provide the best internet connection is important for anyone who loves traveling while working or studying. As of April 2022, UAE was ranked first globally for having the highest speed of internet with a speed of 134.48. This is followed by Qatar with 129.36, Norway with 116.17, South Korea with 111.94, and Saudi Arabia with 105.42.
Internet in UAE
UAE ranks first in the world with a speed of 134.48 for mobile connections and ranks thirteenth with a speed of 124.70 for fixed broadband connections. The Internet in UAE is provided by two major operators, Etisalat and Du. Many people credit these two companies for their commitment to improving the internet experience in the UAE. Both operators launched special packages and promotions to allow their customers to experience the use of high-speed internet.
The rates of internet packages vary according to the operators. For signing up with any of the internet providers you would have to pay a subscription fee of 100 to 200 dirhams. The broadband connection would cost approximately 100 to 500 dirhams per month. Etisalat provides packages ranging from 389 to 2850 dirhams per month depending on the customer’s preference.
Internet in Qatar
Qatar comes in second after UAE with a speed of 129.36 for mobile connections and thirtieth rank with a speed of 94.25 for broadband connections. The top two service providers in Qatar are Ooredoo and Vodafone.
Ooredoo has better coverage and provides higher speed than Vodafone. It is the market leader with almost 2/3 of the market captured. The basic internet pack costs QR 35 and the top-ups range from QR 10 to QR 200. On the other hand, Vodafone is a cheaper option. The packages in Vodafone are till QR 200. Major customers in Qatar believe that Ooredoo provides better services than Vodafone and Vodafone is competing only at low prices.
Internet in Norway
Norway ranks third with a speed of 116.17 for mobile connections and comes at twenty-fourth with a speed of 103.54 for broadband connections. The top internet service providers are CenturyLink, HughesNet, Viasat, and EarthLink. The telephone internet provider Vermont, which does not come in the top four, provides the cheapest internet package at $34.95 per month.
The cost of CenturyLink for 10 Mbps starts from $50. HughesNet costs $59.99 for a speed up to 25 Mbps. Viasat charges $60 for a speed up to 100 Mbps and EarthLink has a cost of $49.95 for a speed of 75 Mbps.
Internet in South Korea
South Korea ranks fourth with a speed of 111.94 for mobile connections and has a speed of 105.38 in broadband services ranking twenty-third. South Korea’s SK Telecom was named the world’s fastest mobile network by the Ookla Speedtest assessment for 2020. Others who provide internet in South Korea are Korea Telecom, SK Broadband Co Ltd, and LG Powercomm.
The average cost of broadband costs approximately $28.50 per month. The normal speed that the urban Koreans are used to at their homes is 100 Mbit/s, and the Korean government is in the works to introduce a 1 Gbit/s connection, or 1024 Mbit/s at the cost of $20 per month. This would make the internet speed in Korea faster by 142 times the average global speed and 79 times the average speed in the United States.
Internet in Saudi Arabia
The fifth on the list is Saudi Arabia with a speed of 105.42 for mobile connections and a speed of 86.64 for broadband connections bringing its ranking down to thirty-eighth. Saudi Arabia is the only Gulf country to introduce 5G technology so fast. The three main internet providers are Saudi Telecom Co. (STC), Etihad Etisalat Co. (Mobily), and Mobile Telecommunication Company Saudi Arabia (Zain KSA). The cost of internet packages from these service providers can go up to SR 430.
Conclusion
With the world investing continuously in information technology, the rankings of countries having the fastest internet can change from time to time. All the top five countries have invested heavily in infrastructure and also allowed private companies to compete in the field of providing technology.
What is a good score on the speed test?
A good upload speed should be at least 10 Mbps and a good download speed should be at least 100 Mbps.
If my country is ranked low on the global speed test, can I still get a good internet connection?
Yes, a country can have low median test results but some individuals can get an internet speed that is above the national speed score. Your internet speed depends on your infrastructure also.
Where can I find the list for the global rankings?
It is hosted on Ookla’s official website. https://www.speedtest.net/global-index
