The results are in, and Canada has officially ranked 25th overall on Surfshark’s Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index.
This index measures the overall digital quality of well-being of countries worldwide.
Canada’s 25th ranking marks a drop of three spots from last year, which allegedly reflects concerns over the country’s progress in developing its digital landscape and positioning itself as a global leader in technological advancements.
According to Tomas Stamulis, Chief Security Officer at Surfshark, prioritizing digital quality of life is crucial, especially during an election year when the digital realm influences political discourse and societal values.
“Our annual project helps to better understand where each county stands in terms of digital divide, highlighting where a nation’s digital quality of life excels and where further focus is required,” said Stamulis.
The DQL Index assesses five key pillars, which makes up the overall score. The five pillars include: internet quality, internet affordability, e-government, e-security, and e-infrastructure—Canada fared well in some areas but faced challenges in others.
Canada’s Key Pillar Scores
- Internet Quality: Canada performed well in terms of internet quality and e-infrastructure, ranking 12th globally, making it 36% faster than the global average
- E-Government: Canada ranked 14th for e-government, slightly lower than last year. This pillar evaluates how digitized government services are and how prepared a country is to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology
- E-Security: Canada ranked 37th for e-security, which remains consistent with last year’s performance
- Internet Affordability: Canada is more affordable than the global average, however, it remains expensive compared to many other countries
- E-Infrastructure: Canada ranked 12th in this category
According to Surfshark’s index, Canada has continued to perform strongly in certain areas, but there’s still room for improvement.
“Canada’s internet prices are relatively affordable compared to the global average but remain among the highest in the G7 and Australia. Before 2019, Canadian internet prices were on a steady decline, driven by the CRTC’s regulation of wholesale rates,” Stamulis added.
“However, the 2021 policy reversal prompted many Internet Service Providers to raise prices again. The federal government’s 2024 report confirms that internet costs have continued to rise, highlighting the ongoing affordability challenge.”
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has reportedly implemented new measures, which aims to boost limited telecom competition in Canada and make it faster and cheaper for Canadians.
What do you think, Victoria?
