Broadband internet coverage by technology and speed (isoc

The broadband internet coverage indicators are used to monitor the connectivity throughout the EU, measuring the supply of fixed and mobile broadband internet connections.

One of the six Commission priorities for the period 2019-2024 is A Europe fit for the digital age. The strategy is built on three pillars: (1) technology that works for the people; (2) a fair and competitive digital economy; and (3) an open, democratic and sustainable society. The aim is to make the digital transformation work for people and businesses while helping to achieve the target of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050.

In 2021, the Commission — in its Digital Compass — presented a vision and avenues for Europe’s Digital Decade – digital transformation by 2030, evolving around four cardinal points: skills, secure and sustainable digital infrastructures, digital transformation of businesses, and digitalisation of public services. The Digital Compass defines the objective that by 2030 all European households should be covered by a gigabit network, with all populated areas covered by 5G.

4. Statistical Indicator

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4.1. Data description

In order to monitor the progress of broadband networks’ deployment across the Member States, DG CNECT (the European Commission Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology) has commissioned the Broadband Coverage in Europe (BCE) project to examine household coverage of all of the main fixed and wireless broadband technologies. The data is collected in a survey of National Regulatory Authorities and operators on a regional, NUTS3 level. In order to determine the number of homes passed by individual operator and/or technology networks, the number of households in each region is calculated using population data and average household size figures published by Eurostat annually for each country. The provided data is then combined to show total country coverage by different broadband technologies and download speed categories, taking into account operator and technology overlaps.

The indicators measure the coverage by broadband internet as a % of households. The data is available in two breakdowns:

by download speed categories:
- Broadband coverage (>2Mbps)
- Broadband coverage (>2Mbps)
- Broadband coverage (>100Mbps)
- Broadband coverage (>1Gbps)
- Broadband coverage (>1Gbps upload and download)

by technology:
- Fixed broadband coverage
- NGA (Next generation access) coverage
- FTTP & DOCSIS 3.1 coverage
- DSL (Digital subscriber line)
- VDSL (Very high-speed digital subscriber line)
- VDSL 2 Vectoring
- FTTP (Fibre to the premises)
- Cable modem DOCSIS 3.0 (Data over cable service interface specification - version 3.0)
- Cable modem DOCSIS 3.1 (Data over cable service interface specification - version 3.1)
- FWA (Fixed wireless access)
- LTE (Long-Term Evolution standard for wireless broadband communication for mobile devices and data terminals, sometimes referred to as 4G)
- Average LTE coverage
- 5G (Fifth generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks)
- Satellite
- Overall broadband coverage
- DOCSIS 3.0 & FTTP coverage
- Cable modem
- WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)
- HSPA (High Speed Packet Access)

Fixed broadband coverage includes DSL (incl. VDSL), FTTP, Cable modem DOCSIS 3.0/3.1 (incl. DOCSIS 1.0/2.0), FWA (or WiMAX in the 2013-2018 editions of the study).

NGA coverage includes VDSL (incl. VDSL2 Vectoring), FTTP, DOCSIS 3.0/3.1.

DSL figures include VDSL and VDSL2 Vectoring coverage, Cable DOCSIS 3.0 figures include DOCSIS 3.1.

The combined coverage of FTTP and DOCSIS 3.1 cable networks is referred to as fixed very high capacity networks (VHCN).

The broadband internet coverage data by technology is available as % of total households or as % of households in rural areas.

The broadband internet coverage data by speed is available as % of total households.

Data from 2015 onwards indicates broadband coverage levels at the end June of each year (mid-year data points). The 2013 and 2014 editions of the BCE study depict end-of-year data.

4.2. Unit of measure

% of households

4.3. Reference Period

Calendar year

4.4. Accuracy - overall

The indicator is produced according to high-level quality standards. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source dataset (see link to related metadata).

4.5. Source data

'Broadband coverage in Europe studies' - DG CNECT

Data sources: IHS Markit, Omdia, Point Topic and VVA, Broadband coverage in Europe studies
Data provider: European Commission (EC) – Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) and Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

5. Frequency and Timeliness of dissemination

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5.1. Frequency of dissemination

Every year

The indicators are updated annually.

5.2. Timeliness

T+1 year

New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.

6. Coverage and comparability

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6.1. Reference area

All EU MS