Happy Birthday, Internet! Here's 10 Facts You Need To Know About The Tech That Brings Us All Together

Dear netizens, your favourite internet has turned 46. Today is the day internet was born with the first data message sent via ARPANET (the network regarded as the precursor of internet) between University of California and Stanford Research Institute in October 1969. As the internet turns an year older, here's a look at the state of internet as it exists today.

1. In 2014, nearly 75% (2.1 billion) of all internet users in the world (2.8 billion) were from the top 20 countries. The remaining 25% (0.7 billion) population was distributed among other 178 countries, each representing less than 1% of total users.

2. China, the country with most users (642 million in 2014), represents nearly 22% of the total user base, and has more users than the next three countries combined (United States, India and Japan).

3. Among the top 20 countries, India is the one with the lowest penetration: 19%, and has the highest yearly growth rate.

4. At the opposite end, United States, Germany, France, UK and Canada have the highest penetration: Over 80% of population in these countries has an internet connection.

5. Between 2000-2015, global internet penetration grew 7 fold, from 6.5% to 43%.

6. Mobile broadband is the most dynamic market segment; globally, mobile broadband penetration has reached 47% in 2015, a value that increased 12 times since 2007.

7. The proportion of the population covered by a 2G mobile cellular network grew from 58% in 2001 to 95% in 2015.

8. By end 2015, 34% of households in developing countries will have internet access, compared with more than 80% in developed countries. In least developed countries (LDCs), only 7% of households have internet access, compared with the world average of 46%.

9. Mobile-broadband penetration levels are highest in Europe and the Americas, at around 78 active subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Africa is the only region where mobile broadband penetration remains below 20%.

10. In developing countries, average monthly fixed broadband prices (in purchase price parity calculated in dollars) are three times higher than in developed countries; mobile broadband prices are twice as expensive as in developed countries.