Global Internet hit 2012 speed bump: Study

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Global Internet connection speeds around the world slowed in late 2012, according to a survey released Thursday that suggested a temporary stall in broadband gains.

Akamai Technologies' third quarter "State of the Internet" report also showed China remained the biggest source of computer attacks, and that Brazil and China appear to have the biggest surge in Web use.

The global average connection speed decreased by some 7 per cent between the second and third quarters of 2012 to 2.8 megabytes per second (Mbps).

But that appeared to be a temporary decline, since average connection speeds were up 11 per cent year over year.