Using data published by UK telecoms provider, Cable, we have extracted the results of broadband Internet download speeds recorded in 25 Caribbean countries as of May 2018.

 

In early June, we published a Snapshot of actual download speeds across select Caribbean countries for the month of May 2018. In that assessment, which used data published by Ookla, only 10  Caribbean countries – less than half of the countries in the region – were featured.

However, just over two weeks ago, the results of another global broadband speed assessment, which featured 200 countries, including 25 from the Caribbean/Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region were published. The tests, which recorded download speeds for the period June 2017 to May 2018, is currently the most comprehensive set of results that are publicly available, and can provide virtually all Caribbean countries with a means to compare their download speeds with each other, and what was recorded in 2017.

Methodology

The 2018 broadband speed test results were collected by M-Lab, a partnership between New America’s Open Technology Institute, Google Open Source Research, Princeton University’s PlanetLab and other supporting partners, over a period of 12 months up to 29 May 2018, and the results were compiled by United Kingdom triple play telecoms service provider, Cable (Source:  Cable).

The download speeds recorded are those available to a device via a router, and so represent actual (or realistic) speeds experienced by the user – via Wi-Fi, Ethernet connection, or other means. For each country, download speed tests had to be recorded from at least 100 unique Internet Protocol addresses. Additionally, test results were excluded if, among other things, the speed test exercises were unduly long or short, if little data was actually transferred, or if a connection between the server and client was not properly established (Source:  Cable).

On our part, we, at ICT Pulse, have extracted the test results for the 25 Caribbean countries included in the global league tables (see Table 1), and will:

  • present the 2018 results
  • briefly compare the 2018 results with those recorded in 2018; and
  • highlight, based on the 2018 download speed results, the estimated time to download a 5 GB file.

Table 1: List of Caribbean countries included in the Cable (UK) global broadband speed results

 

Test results

For the Caribbean countries examined, typical download speeds ranged from a low of 2.42 Mbps in Haiti, to 17.08 Mbps in Barbados in 2018., as reflected in Figure 1. Across the region, the average download speed was 6.66 Mbps.

Figure 1: Actual download speeds recorded in 25 Caribbean countries for the periods June 2016 to May 2017, and June 2017 to May 2018 (Source: Cable)

 

Since the previous reporting period, June 2016 to May 2017, broadband download speeds, generally, have increased, from a regional average of 4.39 Mbps. It should be noted that three countries, Cuba, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, are considered new entries, as no results were recorded for them in 2017.

The greatest increase in download speeds were recorded in: Barbados, up 10.46 Mbps, and Aruba, at 10.15 Mbps. On the other hand, the smallest increase in download speeds were recorded in Suriname, which recorded an increase of 1.22 Mbps in 2018, and Guyana, which was up 1.75 Mbps since the 2017 results.

At the other end of the spectrum, eight countries recorded lower download speeds in 2018 than in 2017. The greatest difference was recorded in: the Dominican Republic (1.81 Mbps); the Cayman Islands (1.66 Mbps); and Jamaica (1.65 Mbps).

However, in our data-centric world, and to better highlight the practical impact of download speeds, Figure 2 shows the time to download a typical High Definition (HD) movie, which tends to have a file size of about 5 GB.  Clearly, the faster the download speed, the shorter the time required to download a 5GB file.  In the Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aruba and Barbados, the download is expected to be completed in under an hour.

Figure 2: Estimated time taken in 25 Caribbean countries to download a 5GB movie based on 2018 results (Source: Cable)

 

Some parting thoughts

The availability of download speed test results that includes most Caribbean countries, is welcomed, as it allows users, countries and the region as a whole to critically examine their broadband download speed independent of the hype – be it from policymakers or Internet service providers (ISPs). For example, although you may have purchased a ‘20 Mbps broadband Internet plan‘, in fact what you have purchased is a plan that will provide download speeds up to 20 Mbps. Invariably, you will not be receiving download speeds anywhere close to that limit, and unless you have a dedicated connection where a specific speed is guaranteed, you will find that the download speed you experience varies greatly, based in time of day and the amount traffic/congestion on the network.

With regard to the download speeds recorded, generally, the region is showed an improvement since 2017. However, since this exercise is only in its second year, it will be interesting to see how individual Caribbean countries and the region as a whole performs in subsequent assessments.

 

 

Image credit:  Chris Oakley (flickr)