Poor Internet quality is a fact of life for many - nearly 1 in 3 (28%) Americans experience disruption more than once a week, with those in low-income states suffering the most.
New York, 16 July 2024: A study conducted on behalf of global Internet Exchange operator, DE-CIX, has revealed that the frequency of Internet disruptions correlates with average state income1. The nationally representative study conducted by Censuswide interviewed more than 2,000 U.S. adults and found that those experiencing Internet disruptions on a daily basis are twice as likely to live in the lowest-income states.
If you live in a state where the average yearly income is $40,000-$49,000 you are 48% more likely to experience weekly Internet disruptions than someone who lives in a state where the average income is $60,000-$69,000 (40% vs 27%). Moreover, you are 130% more likely to experience daily Internet disruptions (11.5% vs 5.0%). For many years, policy makers have sought to address America’s digital divide separating urban and rural areas in terms of Internet connectivity access. However, the results of this study show a digital disparity between the richest and the poorest across the nation as well as inconsistencies between young Americans and their older counterparts.
Internet Unreliability Hits Young People Hardest
The research reveals that unreliable Internet connections are a fact of life for many. On average, Americans report experiencing Internet disruptions 53 times per year where they currently live, with 82% of Americans acknowledging some level of Internet disruption. Over a quarter (28%) of Americans experience Internet disruptions on a weekly basis2.
Younger people are facing more frequent interruptions than older age groups, with 50% of people aged 18-24 experiencing Internet disruptions once a week or more, compared to 17% of people aged 55 or older.
“Our study highlights a critical issue for a significant proportion of Americans, particularly among Gen Z. This generation increasingly demands high-quality video streaming and uploading capabilities, which are essential for study, remote work, and personal entertainment. As digital natives, Gen Z’s expectations for robust Internet infrastructure are higher, and this trend is set to continue. Strengthening digital infrastructure is not just a priority for meeting the evolving digital needs of younger generations, but also for future workforce strategies,” said Ivo Ivanov, CEO of DE-CIX.
The levels of Internet reliability sit in stark contrast to the pivotal role Internet connectivity plays in people’s working preferences and migration drivers. For example, the study also showed that working from home was important to over half (51%) of Americans, with nearly 7 in 10 of 18–24-year-olds expressing a desire3 to relocate and work remotely, compared to just a fifth of those aged 55 and above.
Network interconnection pioneer Hunter Newby, owner of Newby Ventures and co-founder of Connected Nation IXP (CNIXP) – a joint venture company established with the goal of bringing carrier-neutral Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) to regional hub communities throughout the United States – commented: “Reliable broadband Internet access should not be a luxury. The social returns on investment in Internet infrastructure are significant – especially when it comes to bridging the digital divide. This survey highlights once again that there is a clear and present need for robust Internet infrastructure investment to foster innovation, shape the modern workplace, and support America’s future workforce to strive and succeed.”
View the survey findings here: https://charts.censuswide.com/J13377CWMP/J13377CWMP_VIbox.html
[1] Based on the current average salary data from The US Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcst.htm [view here: https://www.marketwatch.com/guides/business/average-salary-by-state/]
[2] Respondents who experience internet disruption “every day”, “4-6 days a week”, “2-3 days a week”, and “once a week”.
[3] Respondents who ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘somewhat agreed’ to the statement ‘I would consider moving away from my current location if I could work remotely’