Due to Different Evaluation Criteria
Japan topped the list in the mobile broadband penetration statistics of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Korea, an internet service powerhouse, ranked eighth. This result is blamed on the application of different evaluation criteria that run counter to Korea’s reality.
According to the OECD's "Broadband Internet Statistics Update," Japan's mobile broadband penetration rate was 146.4 percent, ranking first among 35 member nations as of June last year. Mobile broadband penetration rates were calculated by combining data and voice combined services and data-only services. Japan recorded 0.957 lines per person for data and voice combined services and 0.508 lines per person for data-only services.
Mobile broadband penetration ranks by country are 139.4 percent in Finland, 124.7 percent in Sweden, 123.9 percent in Denmark, 122.3 percent in the United States, 116.5 percent in Estonia, 116.4 percent in Australia and 102.3 percent in Norway. The average OECD mobile broadband penetration rate was 95.1 percent, up 4.4 percent from six months ago (December 2015).
The reason why Korea evaluated as an Internet powerhouse not only by its own self-evaluation but also by international standards placed eighth only is that it is very rare to use data-only charging system which is commonly used for tablets and navigation systems. Korea's mobile high-speed data-only service was 0.015 lines per person, the lowest among OECD countries. Instead, Korea topped the list in terms of mobile broadband data and voice combined services (1.076 lines per person), outclassing Sweden (1.026 lines per person), Finland (1.011 lines per person) and Denmark (1.008 lines per person). In Korea, most smartphone users are subscribing to voice and data integration fee packages.