Regions in Georgia suffering from slow fixed internet speeds recognized in regional comparison analysis
In a recent study, the World Bank Communications Commission has emphasised the importance of upgrading Georgia's fixed broadband infrastructure. The study, which was based on over 7 million speed test results from Ookla, indicates that Georgia's fixed internet connectivity is below the standards of several regional peers.
As of July 2024, Georgia's median fixed broadband download speed stands at 20 Mbps, with 93% of fixed internet speed tests recording download speeds under 30 Mbps. This is in contrast to the European Union average for fixed broadband download speed, which is 150 Mbps.
Interestingly, only 7% of Georgian users enjoy speeds above 30 Mbps, a figure that is higher in neighbouring Armenia, where 20% of users enjoy speeds above this threshold.
The World Bank's report, however, does not provide information about upload speeds or Georgia's mobile internet speeds prior to 2021. It does not compare Georgia's mobile internet speeds to those of other countries or regions, but it does highlight that the rollout of 5G in Georgia has led to a 53% increase in mobile internet speeds between 2021 and 2024. As of the report, Georgia is one of the regional leaders in mobile connectivity.
The World Bank's report does not provide any recommendations for the specific steps that should be taken to upgrade Georgia's fixed broadband infrastructure. However, the infrastructure approach it suggests aligns with typical World Bank broadband development guidance focusing on fiber expansion, mapping, and equitable access.
The current fixed broadband infrastructure upgrade plans for Georgia, consistent with World Bank recommendations, focus on extending fiber optic networks to rural and underserved areas to close the digital divide. The primary targets are improving "last mile" connectivity and the "farm-to-fiber" gap, which involves connecting dispersed rural homes where wiring costs are high.
These actions align with the World Bank’s recommendations to prioritise fiber deployments offering high-speed, reliable, and low-latency connections over alternative technologies where possible, while supplementing with fixed wireless and satellite solutions for the hardest-to-reach homes.
Georgia has engaged in partnerships that deploy large-scale fiber projects, such as Kinetic’s ongoing $39 million fiber internet build in Lowndes County, which will span over 800 miles of fiber cable to connect residents and businesses by the end of 2025. This initiative reflects a broader strategy supported by state, local, and federal funds to promote multi-gigabit speeds and economic growth through fiber infrastructure expansion.
Despite the challenges and obstacles that may arise, the World Bank's report does not mention any potential hurdles to upgrading Georgia's fixed broadband infrastructure. The report does not provide information about the percentage of Georgian users enjoying mobile speeds above 30 Mbps, nor does it indicate whether the improvements in mobile internet connectivity in Georgia have affected the digital divide between urban and rural areas.
In summary, the World Bank's report underscores the need for Georgia to upgrade its fixed broadband infrastructure to meet regional standards and provide better service to its citizens. The infrastructure approach it suggests, focusing on fiber expansion, mapping, and equitable access, offers a promising path forward for Georgia.
The World Bank's report on Georgia's broadband infrastructure highlights the significance of data-and-cloud-computing technology in policy-and-legislation, as it advocates for the need to upgrade Georgia's fixed broadband infrastructure to meet regional standards. The report aligns with the politics of general-news, as it emphasizes the importance of closing the digital divide, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
The recommendations in the World Bank's report, which pertain to fiber expansion, mapping, and equitable access, necessitate cooperation between state, local, and federal entities, as well as private sector investments, such as the ongoing partnership between Georgia and Kinetic for large-scale fiber projects. Thus, technology, policy-and-legislation, and politics are intrinsically linked in the pursuit of improving Georgia's broadband infrastructure.
