Iceland now has something to brag about other than Bjork and really cool-looking geothermal spas. According to the latest OECD report on broadband usage, Iceland has edged ahead of South Korea as the world leader in broadband penetration, as measured by the percentage of inhabitants with broadband connectivity:

Iceland topped the global ranking of high-speed Internet connections compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with 26.7 subscribers per 100 inhabitants, or 26.7% penetration, at the end of 2005. South Korea dropped to second place at 25.4 percent, followed by the Netherlands at 25.3 percent and Denmark at 25 percent.

The findings underscore growing European demand for high-speed Internet connectivity, with Finland (22.5 percent), Norway (21.9 percent), Sweden (20.3 percent) and Belgium (18.3 percent) also ranked among the OECD’s ten most-penetrated broadband markets. Each country added more than six subscribers per 100 inhabitants in 2005. Australia was ranked 17th with 13.8 percent.

Don’t worry, though, America (ranked 12th in the OECD survey) still has the largest absolute number of broadband subscribers in the OECD, at 49.39 million, while South Korea only has 12.19 million and Iceland - tiny but beautiful Iceland - only has 78,000+ broadband subscribers. As GigaOm points out, though, South Korea appears to be moving away from a reliance on cable and DSL connections to fiber-based broadband connections. So, when evaluating the numbers, it’s also important to keep an eye on the quality of the broadband connection. When it comes to download speeds, Japan and South Korea are at the front of the pack.

Tags: Iceland OECD broadband Internet

[image: Blue Lagoon, TabascoKid on Flickr]

In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Network World has published a Future Shock special feature, which examines five emerging trends in technology innovation. For example, Daniel Burrus, founder and CEO of Burrus Research Associates and the author of Technotrends, describes one scenario involving “ultra-intelligent” electronic agents that are linked by always on neural networks:

“You wake up, turn on the TV and you’re greeted by your personal agent, who says, “Good morning; you’re flying to Boston this morning, and it’s raining, so take a raincoat.” As you approach the airport, your agent whispers into your holographic ear bud, telling you exactly where to find a parking space at the airport parking garage.

You go to the gym. Your agent asks what you’d like to watch on television, sets the channel and monitors your workout. Your agent monitors your caloric intake throughout the day via wireless microsensors. You go to work. Your agent keeps track of your appointments, and provides you with real-time information needed to run your company or your department.

Need to do some research? No typing in search terms on Google and clicking around to find what you’re looking for. You ask your agent to find something out, and the agent does it - in a nanosecond.”

Sound too improbable? Check out these four other futuristic trends mentioned by Network World:

(1) The convergence of biotechnology, nanotechnology and IT;
(2) Rapid changes brought about by profound changes in nanotechnology;
(3) The digital home, complete with on-demand gaming and “do-it-yourself-everything”

(4) The “virtual” enterprise, in which “everybody stays connected and works from anywhere”

Tags: future prediction technology

[image: Network World]