Broadband Access Costs Around the World

A couple of weeks back I pointed out why your phone calls cost more in Mexico , but it doesn’t stop there. If you move to Mexico and try to get broadband Internet access hooked up, you’ll be surprised to find it costs you more than you pay at home. (And we won’t even talk about the waiting list time to get it done.)

According to a recent report by the OECD, Sweden had the cheapest monthly Internet usage fees on an absolute basis and Turkey was the most expensive. Just looking at average monthly usage fees, however, Mexico was the worst at USD52.36 per month.

You can’t just opt for the cheapo “DSL lite” deal either. For those you’ll have to go the the supposed expensive countries: “Sweden offered the cheapest services at USD10.79 followed by Denmark at USD11.11, Switzerland at USD12.53 and the U.S. at USD15.93.”

The OECD report showed Japan having the cheapest per megabyte fee at 22 cents/1Mbps followed by Sweden at 35 cents and Korea at 42 cents. Finland’s subscribers paid 59 cents/1Mbps, France 82 cents and Australia USD1.76. Turkey’s subscribers paid the most per megabyte – USD81.13 – followed by Greece (USD37.47) and Mexico (USD34.10).

Remember comrades, capitalistic competition works wonders when it comes to getting more for your money.