Paris: High-speed broadband access is on the rise across the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, but the gap in connectivity between urban and rural regions is widening, according to an OECD report released on Thursday.

According to Anadolu Agency, as of June 2024, the average number of fixed broadband subscriptions in OECD countries reached 36 per 100 inhabitants, with fiber connections comprising 45% of all fixed subscriptions, up from 27% in 2019. Despite these advancements, the report highlights persistent and growing divides in broadband performance and availability between urban and rural areas.

Between 2019 and 2024, the median fixed broadband speeds in OECD countries more than tripled, increasing from 53 Mbps in the last quarter of 2019 to 178 Mbps in the last quarter of 2024. However, the speed difference between urban and rural areas grew significantly, with urban areas enjoying a 44% faster average fixed download speed in 2024 compared to rural regions.

The introduction of 5G networks contributed to a notable increase in median mobile download speeds across all OECD areas, with speeds more than quadrupling from 30 Mbps in Q4 2019 to 113 Mbps at the end of 2024. Yet, these improvements have not been evenly distributed, as broadband quality in rural areas continues to lag behind.

The report further reveals that the relative connectivity gap between urban and rural regions, in terms of fixed broadband download speeds, varied widely across OECD nations, ranging from four to 50 percentage points below the national average. On average, rural regions recorded speeds 24 percentage points lower than urban areas.

To address these disparities, the report suggests three key strategies: utilizing broadband mapping and spatial data to guide investment decisions, strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks to promote competition, and adopting tailored approaches in investments and financing.