KEY ISSUES FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE G20

objects through the IoT, and access to applications and data stored remotely. Broadband infrastructure needs
to keep pace with these growing demands for broadband Internet access. This applies to both terrestrial (e.g.
fibre) and wireless or mobile broadband which are closely interrelated as terrestrial networks provide essential
“back haul” that link the edges to the main (backbone) network.
Among the G20, France has the highest average fixed (wired) broadband penetration (almost 40.5
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants), closely followed by Korea, the United Kingdom and Germany, although
large differences exist across countries, pointing to significant potential for emerging economies to catch up
(Figure 1).
%
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Note: EU data are for July 2015.
Sources: OECD for OECD G20 economies; European Commission (DG CONNECT) for European Union; ITU for other G20 economies.
Given the increasing importance of connectivity on-the-go and with the progressive deepening of the IoT,
mobile broadband is another key digital infrastructure. At 139 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, Japan leads
the G20 in mobile broadband penetration, although the variation across countries is more mixed between
developed and emerging economies, which points to potential leapfrogging in some cases (Figure 2).
Expanding mobile broadband will become even more important with the evolving IoT in which more and more
mobile devices will require an Internet connection over mobile networks.