The State of the Internet 2010

The internet is an integral part of the global economy and our everyday lives, but how much does the average person really know about their connection to the World Wide Web? Well, if you ever wanted to learn more, there are a few great sources for seeing the state of the internet today.

One of these is Akamai's State of the Internet report published on a quarterly basis. We got a brief look at the Q3 report for 2009, and although slightly outdated, it does present some interesting findings.

According to the report, the 10 countries with the fastest internet in the world are not slowing down by any means, although you may be surprised at who enjoys the fastest connections (and who still lags behind).

Besides slower online movies, this analysis is particularly interesting given our world’s increasing use of online media. A recent analysis done by the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism had this to say:

“Websites tied to legacy news outlets like newspapers or cable stations now attract the bulk of the news traffic, but there are signs that this dominance could change. Younger generations especially begin their news consumption through search. There are signs that more and more people are ending it there as well, deciding that all they need is the headline, byline and first sentence of text. In short, news consumers young and old get a good deal of news without ever actually clicking on the story.”

From research to newsgathering, marketing campaigns to home-made videos, there’s no doubt that fast, reliable internet access will play a key role in the development of global economies, particularly as they struggle to set in place the technological foundation for higher bandwidth.

If you’re interested in learning more, we suggest reviewing the following materials:

• Dumenco’s State of the Media Report
• Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism 2009 Report
• Akamai’s State of the Media Report

It’s all just a mouse click away.