These 10 countries with the fastest internet speeds

South Korea had the fastest average internet connection speed in the world during the fourth quarter of 2014, according to the latest report by Akamai Technology, a cloud service provider.

The Asian country had an average data transfer speed of 22.2 megabits per second (Mbps), the report showed.

In comparison, the UAE – which has the fastest internet connection in the Gulf – has an average data speed of 5.7Mbps.

As per the report, the connection speed in the Emirates grew 23 percent quarter-on-quarter during Q4 2014.

The UAE also saw its broadband adoption rate doubling by 164 percent in Q4 2014, bringing the overall internet adoption rate among users to 9.2 percent, the report added.

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Faster internet connection is increasingly becoming more vital, as smartphone penetration levels in the region rise.

In the Gulf, adoption of 4G technology has been massive with 70 percent of users having an LTE-capable smartphone, a recent study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) showed.

The report also found that 90 percent of 3G and 4G consumers said they wanted even faster data speeds, more coverage, more battery life, and other improvements.

Top 10 Countries and Regions with Fastest Internet Connection

1. SOUTH KOREA
Average Mbps: 22.2
The annual increase in speed: 1.6%
Internet penetration rate: 91.52%

2. HONG KONG
Average Mbps: 16.8
The annual increase in speed: 37%
Internet penetration rate: 79.22%

3. JAPAN
Average Mbps: 15.2
The annual increase in speed: 16%
Internet penetration rate: 86.3%

4. SWEDEN
Average Mbps: 14.6
The annual increase in speed: 34%
Internet penetration rate: 89.1%

5. SWITZERLAND
Average Mbps: 14.5
The annual increase in speed: 21%
Internet penetration rate: 88.02%

6. NETHERLANDS
Average Mbps: 14.2
The annual increase in speed: 15%
Internet penetration rate: 96.08%

7. LATVIA
Average Mbps: 13
The annual increase in speed: 25%
Internet penetration rate: 76.45%

8. IRELAND
Average Mbps: 12.7
The annual increase in speed: 24%
Internet penetration rate: 81.62%

9. CZECH REPUBLIC
Average Mbps: 12.3
The annual increase in speed: 8.4%
Internet penetration rate: 77.48%

10. FINLAND
Average Mbps: 12.1
The annual increase in speed: 33%
Internet penetration rate: 94.01%