Malta's broadband quality has been listed as "below needs for today" in a Cisco international study carried out by the Said Business School of Oxford University and the University of Oviedo.

The report, released today, shows Malta in the same 40th position it held in last year's study for its broadband quality score. Korea leads the way this year followed by Japan and Sweden.

The index combines key performance parameters to measure the quality of a broadband connection.

The research team found that broadband quality is linked to social and economic benefits and that countries with high broadband quality have broadband on their national agenda. Investments in fibre and cable upgrades improve broadband quality.

Researchers analysed approximately 24 million records sourced from actual broadband speed tests from Speedtest.net (Ookla) for 66 countries. Additional analysis in 2009 includes segmentation based on stage of economic development; BQS for cities and the Broadband Quality Divide

According to the study Malta achieved the 11th position in broadband leadership in innovation economies. However, when it came to it digital broadband quality divide it sunk to the 63rd position, or the fourth from last.