Global Fixed Broadband Snapshot, Q3 2026: Read the Median in Context
September 2026 Speedtest Global Index results illustrate how country rankings compare, and why a national median is not a household speed promise.
Data source: Ookla Speedtest Global Index, with ranking figures reported by Statista Research Department
The September leaders were well ahead of the middle of the table
In the September 2026 Speedtest Global Index, Singapore ranked first for fixed broadband with a reported median download speed of 462.5 Mbps. The UAE ranked second at 382.4 Mbps, and Chile placed third. The gap between the first two illustrates how far top-ranked markets can sit above the broad middle of a country table.
These are medians from Ookla Speedtest measurements, not the speeds available to every home in a country. A country’s result reflects the mix of plans, technologies, devices, locations, and tests represented in the sample.
What a country ranking can and cannot tell you
A global index is useful for comparing broad market outcomes over time. It cannot identify the access technology at a particular address, distinguish a congested local segment from a slow Wi-Fi link, or predict evening performance for an individual plan.
Ookla’s published country rankings use median results and apply location inclusion criteria to reduce the effect of poorly located samples. Its public quarterly dataset adds a spatial view, but includes only tests with GPS-quality location information and aggregates observations into geographic tiles. These design choices help comparisons, while still leaving sampling limits that readers should keep in mind.
Use local measurements for a plan decision
For a household decision, run repeat tests over Ethernet at different times of day and record upload and latency alongside download. Then compare the measurements with the provider’s plan details and the access technology available at the address. National rankings are context; repeatable local tests are better evidence about a specific connection.
Scope and limitations
The cited country figures are the September 2026 snapshot reported from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index. Rankings and values change monthly. They describe the sampled test results and should not be read as a census of all subscriptions or as a measure of reliability, affordability, or coverage. The World Bank’s Ookla dataset is a separate quarterly, geolocated dataset with its own inclusion and aggregation rules.