Reconnaissance Advantage Index from NetProfit

New statistics released by NetProfit show an ongoing slowdown in US connectivity, accompanied by a significant rise in the levels for Germany. The latter is leaping rapidly up the worldwide ranks, as can be clearly seen in the researcher's latest quarterly 'Reconnaissance Advantage Index'.

The index itself is compiled from NetProfit's own database, monitoring the relative ability of 73 countries to compete in the new 'connected' economy. At the end of the third quarter 2001, Germany rated seventeenth overall with an index rating of 47.6. This meant it was lagging dramatically behind the global leader South Korea (with an index of 66.2), and was ranking only tenth among all European countries. Across the union, Sweden emerged as the most connected with an index of 57.2.

By the fourth quarter of 2001 however, Germany has moved up to twelfth place across the world, sweeping past the levels to be found in nations such as The Netherlands, Austria and Belgium. At the same time, the UK was known to be faring less well in the stakes, ranking only twentieth globally.

NetProfit believes that Germany's acceleration is attributable to increases of more than 10 per cent in Internet access, widespread broadband take-up, and the increasing popularity of Web-enabled mobile devices. In this sense, German users are busy enhancing the country's existing new media channels, as well as developing and using new ones.

The index is a weighted measure of ten vital signs of new economy potential. This includes the proportion of young adults in the population; R&D investment; the penetration of fixed telephone lines, PCs, Internet access and mobile phones, and the total national level of e-commerce revenue.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.