Why Romania's Internet Is So Much Faster Than America's (2024)

America's internet speeds are far from the best in the world. Much of Asia and Europe enjoy much faster—and in many cases cheaper—internet than we do. Including Romania.

But while it is easy to understand why Japan and South Korea are front-runners in global internet speed, Romania is a bit more befuddling. How can a country that didn't even have democracy until the early-90s routinely kick our and everyone else's butts when it comes to internet speed? It turns out a uniquely Romanian phenomenon has enabled the Eastern European nation to obtain some of the fastest internet in the world.

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Last week, the FCC voted to define broadband internet as having a minimum download speed of 25 megabytes per second, up from the previous minimum of 4 mbps. This vote followed a report from the FCC that found access to high-speed internet still isn't up to snuff, especially in rural areas, when compared to the rest of the world.

The US's peak connection speeds average at 48.8 mbps, making it the 17th fastest internet in the world, according to the latest State of the Internet report from Akamai. Some rural areas of the US have connection speeds of 7.3 mbps or slower. Meanwhile, Romania's peak speeds sit around 58.7 mbps, the fastest internet in Europe, and the sixth-fastest in the world.

Why Romania's Internet Is So Much Faster Than America's (1)

When you consider download rates, Romania's speedy internet looks even more impressive compared to the US. NetIndex, an online catalog of internet speeds from US company Ookla, uses software to regularly test download speeds around the world. It found the average download speed in the US to be 28.9 mbps, while Romania enjoys 60 mbps:

Why Romania's Internet Is So Much Faster Than America's (2)

Composite screengrab: NetIndex

There are a few reasons why Romania's internet speeds rival those in Japan and South Korea, while making the rest of Europe and North America seem slow in comparison. For one, there are a lot fewer people online in Romania. The internet penetration rate is just 50 percent in Romania, according to the International Telecommunications Union (the UN's information and communications agency), while the US penetration rate is more than 80 percent. And since Romania has a population of about 19 million and a land mass about the size of Oregon, it makes it a lot easier to deliver super high speeds.

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But there are other factors in Romania's telecommunications history that have led to its impressive internet speeds, according to the ITU. When the demand for high speed internet started to grow in Romania, Romtelecom (Romania's AT&T) hadn't yet launched. To meet the need, savvy entrepreneurs started to launch neighborhood networks: small, localized operations that only serve a customer base of a few blocks.

At first, these were just local area networks so neighbors could share music they'd downloaded or play games together. The local network operators started to make more money as more people joined the network, so they decided to use the LANs as a convenient way to sell inexpensive high-speed internet to a specific area, installing overhead internet cables.

"There are now discussions about forcing these operators to put their networks underground, which would have the benefit of removing the fibres from view in many urban areas," reads a case study from the ITU. "However, to date operators have not been forced to put their networks underground on a large scale and Romanians therefore enjoy access to relatively cheap broadband infrastructure in many urban areas."

The ITU report says Romania's fast internet can be largely attributed to this unique phenomenon of neighborhood networks and notes 16 percent of connections have speeds of at least 100 mbps. And it explains why the US hasn't been able to catch up. The neighborhood networks work well in dense urban areas of Romania, but hanging fiber optic cables from the trees in the internet wastelands of America wouldn't make for a very practical solution for our slow internet woes. At least the FCC is on our side.

Correction: In one instance, South Korea and North Korea were flipped in this article. An earlier version also identified Romania as having the second-fastest internet in Europe. It has the fastest internet in Europe.

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Why Romania's Internet Is So Much Faster Than America's (2024)

FAQs

Why Romania's Internet Is So Much Faster Than America's? ›

There are several reasons for this: Lack of a legacy infrastructure meant that for many Romanian households the first Internet connection they ever had is by optic fiber. In more developed countries you have the old copper telephone cables that go in all of the houses and apartments so they get used for Internet too.

Does Romania have the fastest internet in the world? ›

Romania is known as one of the best countries in the world when it comes to the speed of internet. And even though it's no longer the top country in Europe when it comes to the average internet speed, it's still doing extremely well. Much better than most, actually.

How good is the Internet speed in Romania? ›

Internet Download Speed
#CountryAverage Internet Speed
9Romania260.97 Mbps
10Thailand260.54 Mbps
11United Arab Emirates256.04 Mbps
12United States of America256.03 Mbps
107 more rows

Does Europe have better internet than us? ›

Download Speeds: U.S. download speeds during peak times (weekday evenings) averaged 15 Mbps, which was below the European average of 19 Mbps. There was also a disparity between the speeds advertised and delivered by broadband providers in the U.S. and Europe.

Why do other countries have faster internet? ›

Why do some countries have faster internet or faster internet penetration than others? Some countries are smaller than others so it costs less to run cable. Others have used public funding to go from nothing to state-of-the-art ISP equipment while the US and Europe lag behind.

Why is Romania internet so fast? ›

Lack of a legacy infrastructure meant that for many Romanian households the first Internet connection they ever had is by optic fiber. In more developed countries you have the old copper telephone cables that go in all of the houses and apartments so they get used for Internet too.

What country is the strongest internet? ›

Internet speed ranking by country and territory

According to the latest data on internet speed ranking, Singapore has the world's fastest internet. Its average download speed on fixed internet connections is 216.46 Mbps (megabits per second).

Which country has 7G network? ›

Yes we can say that internet speed is provided in Norway like 7G or 8G network. Norway is a country in the world where internet speed is the fastest.

What is the Internet speed in USA? ›

Basic Service = 3 to 8 Mbps. Medium Service = 12 to 25 Mbps. Advanced Service = More than 25 Mbps. Mbps (Megabits per second) is the standard measure of broadband speed.

Which country has the fastest internet ever? ›

Norway, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar boast some of the fastest average mobile internet connections in the world, with each of these countries registering average median speeds in excess of 120 Mbps as of September 2022.

Is Internet in USA good? ›

Americans may be doing well on average, but it's not spread equally. The Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) latest 2023 data shows 92.2% of U.S. households have access to internet speeds of 100 Mbps or above.

How much is WIFI in Romania? ›

Romania has climbed three positions in the ranking of countries with the cheapest internet, from eighth place last year, and has returned to the top 5, with an average price of RON 35 (USD 7.57) per month for a broadband internet package, down from RON 40 per month in 2022.

Who has the fastest WIFI in the world? ›

The global average broadband internet speed is 32.13Mbps (megabits per second). Iceland has the fastest broadband in the world with an average speed of 216.56Mbps. Turkmenistan has the slowest broadband in the world with an average speed of just 0.77Mbps.

Where does the US rank in internet speed? ›

USA's Internet Speed Compared to Other Countries

Speedtest.net reported the USA's average download Internet speed in 2022 as 256.03 Mbps—more than eight times faster than in 2013—and our latest global rank at 12th.

Why is Korean internet so fast? ›

Three: Urban population density

Population density isn't much fun if you're claustrophobic, but it makes fast internet a lot easier to get. With the high proportion of Koreans living in urban-area apartments, spreading connections between them is more like stitching a quilt than building a road.

Is the Internet free in Romania? ›

Romania has an extensive network of free Wi-Fi hotspots and a handy Wi-Fi map to help you find them. The country is known for its picturesque landscape, medieval castles and vibrant cities.

Which country is from Europe has fastest internet speed? ›

1. Portgual. It's no surprise that Portugal tops this list, with an average Internet speed of 60 Mbps. Portugal has long been one of the best destinations in Europe for digital nomads because of its stunning scenery, sunny weather, affordable prices, and fast internet.

What is the best network in Romania? ›

Orange has the best coverage in Romania.

It also won the Romania Best Mobile Coverage Speedtest Award of 2021.

What country has the weakest WIFI? ›

Cable.co.uk said in a report on worldwide broadband speed in 2021 that Turkmenistan, with an Internet speed of 0.50 megabits per second (Mbps), was the slowest of all 224 countries surveyed, with it taking just over 22 hours and 34 minutes to download a movie file with a size of 5 gigabytes.

What country has the strongest WIFI signal? ›

Ranked: Fixed Broadband Speeds
RankCountryMean download speed (Mbps)
1🇯🇪 Jersey274.27
2🇱🇮 Liechtenstein211.26
3🇮🇸 Iceland191.83
4🇦🇩 Andorra164.66
6 more rows
Sep 29, 2021

What is the top country with no internet? ›

CharacteristicNumber of disconnected people in millions
Indonesia92.84
Democratic Republic of Congo87.2
Tanzania45.77
Kenya36.75
6 more rows
May 22, 2023

Is 6G available in USA? ›

When will 6G be available to consumers? 6G is expected to be available around 2030. That's the estimate of most experts, considering that new wireless communication standards emerge about every decade.

Does 10G exist? ›

The Xfinity 10G Network is the new brand for our next-generation network. The Xfinity 10G Network delivers a powerful connection to our customers that will continue to get smarter, faster, more reliable, and secure.

Is US working on 6G? ›

The 6G technology is almost certainly years away, but the administration's effort is likely part of a bid to beat China and re-establish the US as a leader in wireless connectivity, as well as to carefully plan for new technologies that will be essential to national security and the broader economy.

Which US state has the best internet? ›

Here's their full list of 50 U.S. states and internet index rankings in 2022. New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York deliver the best value for internet services.

How fast is Japan's internet? ›

Fastest Internet In The World 2020 - Ranked By Median Download Speeds
RankCountryDownload Speed (Mbps)
25Japan31.23
26Taiwan30.58
27Romania28.55
28United Kingdom28.51
56 more rows

What city has the fastest internet? ›

  1. Beijing. Fixed broadband speed: 252.51 Mbps. ...
  2. Shanghai. Fixed broadband speed: 227.97 Mbps. ...
  3. New York. Fixed broadband speed: 225.01 Mbps. ...
  4. Bangkok. Fixed broadband speed: 219.33 Mbps. ...
  5. Lyon, France. Fixed broadband speed: 208.79 Mbps. ...
  6. Valparaiso, Chile. Fixed broadband speed: 206.36 Mbps. ...
  7. Bucharest, Romania. ...
  8. Madrid, Spain.
Dec 27, 2022

Which 5 country has the slowest internet? ›

Countries in the world with the slowest internet

The five countries in the world with the slowest network speeds are Turkmenistan (0.77Mbps), the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (0.94Mbps),Yemen (0.97Mbps), Guinea-Bissau (0.98Mbps) and Afghanistan (0.98Mbps).

What is the highest WIFI speed? ›

When you're in the market for fast internet, primarily pay attention to high download speeds—which is the number before “Mbps” most providers advertise. The fastest broadband internet service usually comes with 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps) download speeds or higher.

What is the fastest speed ever recorded? ›

The Outright Land Speed Record, which currently stands at 763.035 mph(1227.985 km/h), is the most prestigious, but there are hundreds of other records in myriad classes based on factors such as engine type and capacity, weight or body shape.

Does Japan use 7G? ›

South Korea

Other nations, including Japan, Hong Kong, and Sweden, also give their citizens access to the quick Internet. While several nations offer useful Internet, they have not yet introduced 7G or 8G networks.

How fast is spacex internet? ›

In optimal conditions, the internet speeds are good with Starlink. The download speed ranges between 50 Mbps to 250 Mbps. Upload speeds range between 10 to 20 Mbps, which is great. But the dish must remain unobstructed in order to get consistent performance.

How fast is the Internet in the military? ›

On bases where Boingo service is available, troops can get basic Internet with a data transfer speed of 128 kilobits per second, as well as TV services with local channels, for free, the Navy Times reports. They also have the option to pay to upgrade to faster speeds and more channels.

Why is US internet so expensive? ›

One possible answer is the lack of competition. The Milken Institute Review says that “Nearly two out of five U.S. households live in areas with only one or two internet service providers (ISPs) and 70 million Americans have only one choice.

Does China have 8G? ›

The 8G is a Soviet-built electric locomotive used in China. It is developed and built by Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant. The design of 8G is based on Soviet Railway VL80S electric locomotives. It is a kind of locomotive with Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′ wheel arrangement used in China.

How fast is Japan's internet compared to the US? ›

Engineers in Japan achieved a record-breaking internet speed of 319 terabits per second (Tb/s). That is about 7.6 million times faster than the average home internet speed in the U.S.

Which card does Romania use? ›

Romania is one of the biggest ecommerce markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Cards and contactless payments are popular with Romanians. Card schemes Visa and Mastercard are used the most. During the pandemic, cash payments greatly decreased, resulting in more card and contactless payments.

Can I use my Internet in Romania? ›

Pay As You Go Roaming charges

Romania is a Go Roam in Europe destination which means you can use your data here at no extra cost. If you have an Add-on with a data allowance of 12GB or greater, a fair use limit applies, with use over 12GB subject to a surcharge (see below).

How much do Americans pay for Wi-Fi? ›

How much does internet cost per month?
Connection typeAverage monthly cost in 2021Download speed range
DSL$5125–1,000 Mbps
Cable$513–500 Mbps
Fiber$6430–2,000 Mbps
Satellite$8612–100 Mbps
1 more row

Which European country has the fastest internet? ›

In Eastern Europe, the average internet speed is 39.43 Mbps. The top three countries with the fastest internet speed in this region are Romania (112 Mbps), the Republic of Moldova (66.08 Mbps) and Poland (55.82 Mbps).

How much of Romania has internet? ›

In 2022, the share of households with internet access in Romania remained nearly unchanged at around 89.41 percent.

Is Japan using 8G? ›

Other nations, including Japan, Hong Kong, and Sweden, also give their citizens access to the quick Internet. While several nations offer useful Internet, they have not yet introduced 7G or 8G networks.

What country has the strongest WIFI? ›

As of April 2023, Qatar had the fastest average mobile internet connection worldwide, nearly 190 Mbps. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Macau followed, with each of these countries registering average median speeds above 170 Mbps.

Where is the fastest internet in the US? ›

Maryland has the fastest average Internet speed of 65.02 Mbps. Maryland's fast Internet speeds make it an ideal location for tech businesses, multi-person streaming, and gaming. The next four fastest states are New Jersey (59.58 Mbps), Delaware (59.08 Mbps), Rhode Island (56.77 Mbps), and Virginia (55.98 Mbps).

Is internet cheap in Romania? ›

Romania has climbed three positions in the ranking of countries with the cheapest internet, from eighth place last year, and has returned to the top 5, with an average price of RON 35 (USD 7.57) per month for a broadband internet package, down from RON 40 per month in 2022.

Does Romania have free WIFI? ›

Romania has an extensive network of free Wi-Fi hotspots and a handy Wi-Fi map to help you find them. The country is known for its picturesque landscape, medieval castles and vibrant cities.

What is the internet speed in USA? ›

Basic Service = 3 to 8 Mbps. Medium Service = 12 to 25 Mbps. Advanced Service = More than 25 Mbps. Mbps (Megabits per second) is the standard measure of broadband speed.

Is 5G in Romania? ›

In June 2021, Romania passed the 5G Law, which requires 5G producers to obtain prior authorisation from the government.

What are the 5G speeds in Romania? ›

Global Top Ten Countries for 5G Download Speed
Country5G Download Speed [Mbps]Global Ranking
Romania388.512
Russia260.223
Bulgaria258.374
Finland236.15
6 more rows
Aug 25, 2022

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