Full speed ahead: The government broadband index Q1 2011

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With ambitious targets for both the speed and coverage of next-generation broadband networks, the developed countries of South-east Asia score highest in the gBBi, the first-ever index to assess countries on the basis of government planning, as opposed to current broadband capability.

Greece is the worst-performing country measured by the index, owing to its relatively low coverage target and drawn-out deployment schedule. Greece also suffers due to the size of its public-funding commitment as a percentage of overall government budget revenues, and because its plan does little to foment competition in the high-speed broadband market.

Australia, the country with the highest-profile and most controversial public-sector scheme, also falls in the bottom half of the index, mainly because it is spending a colossal 7.58% of annual government budget revenues on its National Broadband Network. In South Korea, by comparison, the government is spending less than 1% of annual budget revenues to realise its broadband goals, achieving targets by encouraging the private sector to invest in the country's broadband future.

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