Ovum today released the latest Broadband Development Index that tracks fixed and mobile broadband services in 191 countries including India and China during 2013 to 2020.

Telecom markets in India, Nigeria, and Indonesia will significantly improve their positions in Ovum’s Broadband Development Index between 2015 and 2020.

According to India’s telecom regulator TRAI, top fixed broadband operator in India is BSNL, while Bharti Airtel is the top mobile Internet operator based on subscriber base.

Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone and Reliance Jio Infocomm are in the process of expanding their 4G presence across the country. Bharti Airtel is the number one 4G telecom operator in terms of coverage and subscriber base. Airtel started 4G operations in 2012, while Idea Cellular and Vodafone launched 4G in the last quarter of 2015 and Reliance Jio will launch 4G in the second half of 2016.

The telecom analysis firm said high-speed Internet connectivity is expected to surge in Europe over the next five years.

“In Europe, LTE, fiber, and DOCSIS technologies are being rolled out progressively and broadband connectivity is closing the lead held by developed Asia,” said Upin Dattani, senior financial analyst at Ovum.

Top nations, according to Ovum’s  Broadband Development Index for 2015-2020 will be Germany, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Australia, United Kingdom, Finland and Bahrain.

The primary means of accessing the Internet is mobile in emerging markets. Countries that score highly for fixed broadband development often do likewise in mobile broadband.

The leading region for broadband connectivity is currently developed Asia. South Korea, Singapore, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Japan occupied the top five spots in the Broadband Development Index in 2015.

Ovum says demand for faster Internet connectivity globally, on both mobile and fixed networks, is driving progressive rollouts of 4G and fiber technologies.

Vina Krishnan
[email protected]