Connect with us

Business

Broadband Penetration and Average Speed; East Beats West

Published

on

Broadband is the necessity of the modern world. It lets you connect to the virtual world even faster, you do your job faster and it helps you save your time. High speed internet with the help of broadband has not only made the experience on internet faster but also more content and feature rich. It wouldn’t have been possible to watch a high quality video documentary on YouTube seamlessly ten years back.

In the year 1997, the cable modem was introduced. Until at least 2001, it wasn’t very common due to its high cost. By 2004, people realized the convenience of using high speed internet, it had become very common in the average households in the United States and in the rest of the world. Almost immediately after two years, broadband started gaining popularity in developing countries like India as well with state run BSNL and MTNL using their existing landlines to provide high speed internet up to 256Kbps.

Since 2004, broadband has come a long way. In terms of speed and cost, many developing countries are leaving the developed countries like UK and US in the dust. To cite an example, according to a survey done by an IT company Akamai, the average broadband speed in UK is 6.3Mbps compared to 6.4Mbps in Romania. Among the G20 nations, the UK generates the largest amount of money online, still the speed of download in the country is 16th slowest in Europe.

When I was in UK, I owned a BT broadband connection. The connection was lightning fast at 16Mbps, much faster than the average UK broadband speed. The connection cost me £16 for unlimited broadband excluding the line rental of £15.45 per month. I got extra benefits like Sainsbury’s gift card worth £25, weekend calls and free sports channels on TV.

When I came to India I did not expect similar speed on broadband and at much cheaper price! In Bangalore 16Mbps Airtel connection cost me ₹1500 (£16.6) including line rental and a free Wi-Fi router and 20 hours of free calls per month. You do not need to hang-up every hour like you need to do for unlimited and weekend calls in the UK. The internet connection did not include TV, which was one disadvantage. The service providers do offer Direct to home satellite TV services, but they have not merged their services to provide a complete package. Also the download had a limit of 80GB but after that you can download unlimited at the lower speed of 512Kbps, I could never consume 80GB hence I experienced seamless fast internet without any problem throughout the month.

BT Group of the UK, which has a network reaching almost every household in the country, is laying fibre to cabinets in the streets. However, they are still relying on conventional copper wires to carry the broadband signal to the doorstep from the streets. This means that if 1,000Mbps or more is supported by the fibre optics, at the end of the day the copper wires to home will only be able to carry 80Mbps speed.

Average broadband speed by country
Image by Akamai

When it comes to the network speed, east clearly beats the west. The tech savvy Asian population in South Korea (15.7Mbps), Japan (10.9Mbps) and Hong Kong (9.3Mbps) have occupied the top three positions in the list of fastest average internet speed by country.

Rank
Country
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Percentage of Population
Year
1
China
126,337,000
9.42
2010
2
United States
85,723,155
27.62
2010
3
Japan
34,044,729
26.91
2010
4
Germany
26,089,800
31.70
2010
5
France
21,345,000
34.00
2010
6
United Kingdom
19,579,823
31.56
2010
7
South Korea
17,193,570
35.68
2010
8
Russia
15,700,000
10.98
2010
9
India
15,010,000
1.23
2013
10
Brazil
13,266,310
6.81
2010

When it comes to number of subscription, BRIC nations manage to come at the top 10 positions challenging the developed countries. China sits at the top, and Russia, India and Brazil occupy the 8th, 9th and 10th position respectively.

However, when it comes to rate of broadband penetration, BRIC nations do really badly, especially India, the Information Technology hub of the world, with only 1.23% of its population connected to the high speed internet. Russia is doing relatively better than other BRIC nations with 10.98%.

Many governments in Asia have made Internet development as a national goal on priority, which has resulted South Korea becoming the hub of online streaming and online gaming which requires high bandwidth. Just like how in Europe Latvia and Romania do wonders, we may expect India and China doing the same in Asia, which have massive population working in Information Technology services and Software Development.

Student @ Advanced Digital Sciences Center, Singapore. Travelled to 30+ countries, passion for basketball.

Continue Reading
Comments

Business

Learn English quickly and effectively with the Callan Method

Published

on

In a world where all countries and cultures are interconnected, learning different languages has become mandatory. To do so effectively, you should try the well-known Callan Method, with which you’ll easily master English in less time than you imagine.

The learning of the English language has gained great importance in the job and academic world due to the globalization our society has experienced and the fluid communication constantly occurring between all countries. Due to these factors, and if you want to grow as a person, mastering English is crucial and something you must do to increase your opportunities in the current world. Therefore, it’s best to explore efficient methods to learn it, and one of them is undoubtedly the Callan method.

The Callan Method is totally different from conventional methods for learning English, and it has shown to be effective for those who decide to start their journey of learning this language.

What is the Callan Method, and how does it work?

Since ancient times, many language teaching methods have been developed with different approaches and types of progressions, of which one of the most effective is the Callan Method. Developed by Robin Callan in the 1960s, this method stands out for its intensive approach aimed at quickly and effectively imprinting the language into the student’s brain.

This is achieved because it is based on fundamentals such as repetition, constant real-time practice, and immediate correction of any error. With this method, students are constantly exposed to oral questions and answers in English, with repetitions of the same and, above all, error corrections.

Upon entering one of these classes, you will quickly notice the difference from a regular English class. The teacher will be speaking in English at a natural speed, and you won’t touch a pen or paper throughout the entire lesson, but rather respond to oral questions and participate in structured conversations.

Thus, the Callan method mainly emphasizes improving fluency in speaking and the auditory ability to understand the language, skills that will be tested in real-life situations. Repeating this a sufficient number of times results in a student with fluency and confidence in the language, ready to face the world in English and engage in advanced conversations with native speakers of this language.

Benefits of the Callan Method

This method, unlike many others, offers a variety of advantages for students that make it stand out from the crowd and position it as one of the best, as studies have confirmed that with this method it is possible to learn English up to 4 times faster than with any other.

One of these advantages is the fact that when you start studying with this method, you don’t learn grammar but rather dive straight into the world of English. This might sound counterproductive, but it’s quite the opposite, as it allows you to start familiarizing yourself with the sounds and vocabulary, even as a beginner.

Furthermore, being based on a primarily oral learning system, you will improve your fluency in speaking and your listening skills will progress effectively and rapidly. These two skills are the ones you will use the most in real life, so the Callan Method is perfect if you want to go to an English-speaking country.

Beyond the typical generic conversations you would learn in any class, the Callan Method offers structured conversations that encourage you to use new words and phrases in each one, emphasizing learning with each session to make the most of your time.

By receiving corrections from the teacher immediately after making a mistake, not only do you have the chance to correct it, but little by little you gain the confidence necessary to speak and master the language as if it was your mother tongue. So if you are looking to learn English easily, or to further improve your English skills, the Callan Method is definitely worth diving into.

Continue Reading

Business

Know The Differences between Static and Dynamic QR Codes

Published

on

In the digital age, qr code have become an integral part of our lives, bridging the physical and digital worlds seamlessly. They enable quick and convenient access to information, websites, and multimedia content. QR codes come in two main flavors: static and dynamic.

In this article, we will explore the differences between these two types of QR codes and introduce you to a powerful qr code generator known as QRFY. We’ll delve into the versatility of dynamic QR codes and how they can be a game-changer for your business.

Static QR Codes vs. Dynamic QR Codes

Static QR codes are the traditional, one-time-use variety. Once generated, the encoded information is fixed and cannot be altered. These are great for simple, permanent links, such as sharing a website URL or contact information.

On the other hand, dynamic QR codes are a dynamic duo. The content behind these codes can be changed at any time without the need to update the QR code itself. This feature opens up a world of possibilities.

With QRFY, you can create dynamic QR codes that offer unparalleled flexibility. QRFY supports hosting various types of content, including PDF documents, images, videos, vCards Plus, restaurant menus, and much more.

Customization at Your Fingertips

QRFY takes customization to the next level. You can create custom QR codes with your logo, color schemes, or choose from predefined templates. This means your QR codes can reflect your brand identity, making them more recognizable to your audience.

Detailed Analytics and Control

With QRFY, you gain valuable insights into the performance of your QR codes. You can track the number of scans per day, monitor user demographics by country and city, and even analyze data on the browser and language preferences of your audience. This data can help you fine-tune your marketing strategies for better results. Plus, you can easily export this information for in-depth analysis and decision-making.

Key Features of QRFY:

  • Dynamic content updates: change the content behind your QR code at any time.
  • Content variety: host PDF documents, images, videos, vCards Plus, restaurant menus, and more.
  • Customization: personalize your QR codes with your logo, colors, or templates.
  • Advanced analytics: monitor scans per day, user demographics, browser data, and language preferences.

QR codes have come a long way from their humble beginnings and are now an essential tool for businesses and individuals alike. With the advent of dynamic QR codes, made easy through QRFY, the possibilities are endless. The ability to update content, track scans, and customize your QR codes makes them a powerful asset for marketing and communication.

Whether you want to share information, promote your brand, or streamline user interactions, QRFY’s dynamic QR codes are the way to go. So, take advantage of this dynamic shift in QR code technology. Embrace the flexibility and control offered by QRFY and watch your QR codes evolve with your needs. Dynamic QR codes are not just links; they’re gateways to a world of possibilities, limited only by your imagination.

Continue Reading

Business

Here’s How to Boost Employee Satisfaction Today

Published

on

Pros-for-your-business

If you wish to maintain your employees and positive workplace morale, it is important to stay on top of employee management and know how to improve the workplace to benefit your employees. 

This guide will share the best ways to boost your employee satisfaction and guarantee to make them feel appreciated. 

Use chaplains to improve your workplace conditions

As a business owner, it is essential that you improve and maintain workplace conditions so that employees can feel satisfied while working for your business. Whether you lack support or have a dirty and messy workspace, you will not guarantee to maintain employees’ happiness or keep them working for your business if you do not offer great workplace conditions.

If you wish to improve your fast food employee retention, it is a great idea to use chaplains as they work to improve workplace conditions and measures so employees can feel happier and attain greater job satisfaction. 

Offer rewards for their efforts

It is important to offer rewards to employees for their hard work and effort so you can show that you appreciate and respect them.

A small pay bonus at the end of the month or taking them out for a nice lunch cannot prove to them that you have noticed their efforts and respect them for it, which will encourage them to feel satisfied with your management.

Ask them how they are and offer them support when they need it

As a manager or boss, you might often lack the time or thought to ask employees how they truly are. You might ask them each morning briefly how they have been, which will likely attain the same response. Many people will tell you that they are OK, even if they are not.

Whereas if you sit down with your employees individually and open up an honest conversation, you might find that they are not truly happy inside or outside of work. If an employee tells you this, it is important to listen to them and offer them support so that they can boost their happiness and well-being again which will ensure that they are satisfied at work.

Support their development and provide more training

Another great way to boost employee satisfaction is to support their development and offer them more training. 

Not every employee will want to climb the ladder in your business however there will be a select few who will want to climb higher in your company which will help them gain more success.

Therefore, to maintain and boost employee satisfaction, it is essential that you support their development and listen to their goals so that you can provide the right training for them to reach them.

Using these simple yet effective tips, you will guarantee to boost employee satisfaction in your company today. Simply listening to them, rewarding them and ensuring it to improve your workplace conditions will guarantee that your customers feel more satisfied and happy working for your business.

Continue Reading

Trending