Around 20% of global population can access 5Mbps broadband

Nearly 20 per cent of the world's population can access broadband of speeds greater than 5Mbps, new research reveals.

Analysis firm Akamai has published its quarterly state of the internet report to offer a snapshot of broadband take up and provision around the globe.

This report revealed that 19 per cent of people living in the world are currently able to connect to broadband of speeds in excess of 5Mbps.

At 69 per cent, South Korea had the highest rate of users able to access such speeds, followed by Belgium with 31 per cent and Ireland at ten per cent, while the UK lags behind with only eight per cent.

However, the report also revealed the global average internet speed lagged even further behind at just 1.5Mbps.

According to a survey of 12,000 users by price comparison site uSwitch, nearly half of consumers in the UK are dissatisfied with the broadband experience they receive from internet service providers.