CircleID

I've been fascinated by the recent announcement that Australia is spending $31 billion USD to upgrade its broadband. With all the excitement and fuss over the broadband stimulus funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, it may seem strange to be claiming that the $7.2 billion is a pitifully small amount — but let me bring this home for you:

Australia has a population of roughly 22 million people and is spending $31 billion USD. That works out to over $1400 per person.

The U.S. has a population of roughly 306 million people and is spending $7.2 billion USD. That works out to a bit under $25 per person.

To be commiserate with Australia, the US should be spending over $430 billion on its broadband infrastructure.

By Sascha Meinrath, Research Director, New America Foundation; Principal, The Ethos Group. Visit the blog maintained by Sascha Meinrath here.

Related topics: Broadband, Policy & Regulation, Telecom