As the networks are under strain during the lockdown, India slipped two positions in terms of fixed broadband speed to 71st rank in March, according to Ookla’s March Speedtest Global Index. In terms of mobile broadband also, India fell two ranks to 2 spots to 130th compared to February 2020. The report said that the mean fixed broadband speed in India has been declining since the beginning of 2020, from 41.48 Mbps in January to 35.98 Mbps in March, a drop by 5.5 Mbps. Similarly, mean download speeds on fixed broadband have decreased from 39.65 Mbps in February to 35.98 Mbps in March.

Further, there was a slight dip in mean mobile download speed, from 11.83 Mbps in February to 10.15 Mbps in March 2020. “When networks are under usage strain, like they are in this unprecedented time of lockdown in India due to COVID-19, it is natural that they experience some level of slowdown,” said Doug Suttles, CEO of Ookla.