Forbes Magazine ranks The World’s 10 Most Wired Countries. Rankings are based on a combination of hard data from organizations like the International Telecommunications Union and responses to an Executive Opinion Survey by the World Economic Forum, on topics such as business adoption of technology and laws relating to ICT. About 11,000 business executives in 131 countries participate in the survey.

According to Forbes, Nordic countries did well, with Iceland finishing second and Denmark fifth. Like Sweden (first), they benefit from government support of technology and a strong focus on education and innovation.

Switzerland (No. 3), the Netherlands (No. 4) and Luxembourg (No. 10) rounded out the strong European showing in the top 10.

Two Asian countries made the top 10: Hong Kong at No. 6 and South Korea at No. 7. The Korean government has heavily subsidized broadband construction. Hong Kong’s rank reflects its increasingly wired citizenry and government.

Near the bottom (No. 9): the United States, which scored well in ICT usage, but rated poorly on regulatory issues.

1. Sweden: Topped the World Economic Forum’s “technological readiness” ranking for two years running.
2. Iceland: Iceland’s focus on education and government support of technology helped it power up the ranking.
3. Switzerland: Unlike other top-10 countries, the Swiss government ranks relatively low in technology adoption.
4. Netherlands: Internet and PC usage rates in Netherlands are some of the highest in the world.
5. Denmark: The Danish government has made technology a priority.
6. Hong Kong: A tech-savvy populace helped Hong Kong finish the highest for any Asian country.
7. South Korea: The Korean government’s support of technology through subsidies and legislation boosted the country 11 slots this year.
8. Norway: The government leads individuals and businesses in its adoption of technology.
9. United States: World-class research institutions and engineers, but rates poorly on red tape and regulatory issues.
10. Luxembourg: By improving its inhabitants’ access to broadband, it has pulled itself up the ranking from No. 42

Forbes also ranks America’s Most Wired Cities. They are:

1. Atlanta, Ga. (WiFi Hotspots: #4)
2. Seattle, Wash. (WiFi Hotspots: #5)
3. Raleigh, N.C. (WiFi Hotspots: #14)
4. San Francisco, Calif. (WiFi Hotspots: #2)
5. Baltimore, Md. (tie) (WiFi Hotspots: #18)
6. Orlando, Fla. (tie) (WiFi Hotspots: #3)
7. Charlotte, N.C. (WiFi Hotspots: #13)
8. Chicago, Ill. (WiFi Hotspots: #21)
9. New York, N.Y. (WiFi Hotspots: #31)
10. Portland, Ore. (WiFi Hotspots: #1)

Research indicates that with every 10 percent increase in mobile phone penetration, a country’s GDP increases by 0.6 percent. Unstrung says the top ten emerging markets (below) added 285 million new mobile subscribers in 2006.

India had 165.11 million wireless subscribers a year ago, and in 2007 it ranked as the country with the second largest growth in mobile subscribers after China, according to Light Reading’s report on the fastest growing emerging markets newly published today.

India the second largest wireless market in the world, overtaking the U.S. with its 258 million subscribers. China is by far the largest market, with a subscriber base of 574.63 million by the end of March.

According to Wikipedia:

• India is the fastest-growing telecom market in the world thanks to India’s large population, low telephony penetration levels, and rise in consumer income.
• China has 362 million landline phones [27 per 100 persons] and 565 million [42 per 100 persons] cellular phones (February 2008).

At the Personal Democracy Forum in New York, FCC Commissioner Adelstein and others unveiled InternetforEveryone.org, a national initiative of public interest, civic and industry groups. It seeks to foster a public dialogue among U.S. citizens to advise the government on how to set a national policy. Freepress has a ton of videos.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Friday, June 27th, 2008 at 9:22 am.