Connect South Carolina’s New Broadband Availability Figures Show Access Increasing
June 5, 2014
COLUMBIA, SC – Today, Connect South Carolina released new analysis showing broadband availability in South Carolina at speeds of at least 3 Mbps download/768 Kbps upload, without mobile, increased from 86.93% in October 2011 to 94.08% in April 2014.
The news comes just one week before Connect South Carolina’s annual summit in downtown Columbia, Connections 2014, which will explore the latest developments in hardware, software, infrastructure, processes, and broadband across a variety of industries.
Additional findings from the research (excluding mobile wireless services):
- Broadband availability at speeds of at least 768 Kbps download/200 Kbps is now at 96.98%, excluding mobile and satellite services.
- Broadband availability at speeds of at least 6 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload increased from 69.39% in October 2011 to 88.45% in April 2014, excluding mobile and satellite services.
- Broadband availability at speeds of at least 25 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload increased from 38.63% in October 2011 to 81.81% in April 2014, excluding mobile and satellite services.
- Broadband availability at speeds of at least 100 Mbps download/1.5 Mbps upload increased from 1.06% in October 2011 to 38.02% in April 2014, excluding mobile and satellite services.
- DSL availability increased from 85.83% in October 2011 to 89.23% in April 2014.
- Fiber availability increased from 5.54% in October 2011 to 10.99% in April 2014.
“In all download/upload speed categories, broadband availability has increased substantially in South Carolina,” said Connect South Carolina Community Technology Advisor Leslie Callison. “With our recent residential adoption rate numbers surpassing the national average and our upcoming summit June 11, Connect South Carolina is committed to widespread access, adoption, and use of broadband and proud to be a catalyst in ensuring residents and businesses have the resources for connectivity.”
Connect South Carolina released the first statewide broadband inventory in 2010 and this marks the ninth comprehensive broadband data refresh. Connect South Carolina has developed an innovative broadband mapping tool called My ConnectViewTM offering unmatched views of South Carolina’s technology landscape. Residents and businesses are encouraged to use the interactive map to find area providers and help validate the data.
Connect South Carolina has been working since 2009 to ensure that South Carolina residents have access to the economic, educational, and quality of life benefits derived from increased broadband access, adoption, and use. Connect South Carolina’s research was conducted as part of the State Broadband Initiative grant program, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. The process begins by contacting all known providers in South Carolina and providing information about the broadband mapping project. Information on broadband service areas is collected from each provider through voluntary participation and is subject to confidentiality protections. The data is then independently verified through engineering studies, site visits, propagation models, and consumer feedback. The FCC is using this data to direct broadband subsidies. More information about the broadband mapping process is provided in the Broadband Mapping FAQ.
About Connect South Carolina:
As the State Broadband Initiative, Connect South Carolina is leading the effort to increase high-speed Internet access, adoption and use to ensure South Carolina’s competitiveness in the connected global economy of the twenty-first century. Connect South Carolina is a public-private partnership designated by the state to work with all broadband providers to create South Carolina’s first interactive map of broadband coverage. This work serves as a foundation for addressing remaining service gaps while also engaging state, regional and local leaders in workforce development activities designed to bridge South Carolina’s digital divide. For maps, research or to get involved with efforts in your community please visit: www.ConnectSC.org.
