Wireless Broadband Indicator Methodology

The wireless broadband methodology is the result of several rounds of contributions from, and in-depth discussions among, member countries. The new indicator will assist in informing policy makers and other stakeholders in this increasingly important market segment.

The OECD began collecting and reporting broadband data in 2000 as a way to capture and record significant changes in OECD markets for Internet access. The OECD set the minimum threshold for broadband at a download speed of 256 kbit/s at the time, primarily to exclude ISDN technologies at 144 kbit/s and to include the majority of commercial offers then available via other technologies. Wireless broadband technologies (such as fixed wireless and satellite) have always been included in the historical OECD broadband subscriber statistics, although they have only accounted for a small percentage of total connections. Less than 2% of all reported broadband subscriptions were wireless (fixed and satellite) in June 2008. Mobile network subscriptions (with data services) were not included by the OECD or the ITU in broadband statistics due to their slower speeds and difficulties determining actual use. There have been significant advances in wireless and wired broadband since the OECD first started reporting the number of broadband subscriptions. It is important for the OECD to have an indicator which measures the development of wireless broadband connections across countries. The indicator methodology formulated in February 2009 at an OECD expert meeting in Lisbon and revised based on comments from OECD delegations appears to be robust and sufficiently forward looking.

The Secretariat will also continue working with international organizations such as the ITU and regional bodies such as the EU to harmonize methodologies and reduce the burden on regulatory and statistical agencies.