Consumers living in emerging markets are paying up to three times more for broadband than their mature market counterparts, according to Ovum.
Research by the independent telecoms analyst into broadband in 15 emerging markets revealed that emerging consumers are paying far more on average than the rest of the world, despite earning the lowest wages.
Angel Dobardziev, an Ovum practice leader and author of the report on broadband pricing in emerging markets*, said: “The cost of broadband in some emerging countries is three times as high as in mature markets, which when coupled with low wages, makes it an unaffordable luxury for all except a small group at the top of the socio-economic pyramid.
“The striking difference in broadband prices in mature and emerging markets means there is a huge divide in terms of uptake of services.”