1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
5, rue Alphonse Weicker
L-2721 Luxembourg
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
24 April 20232.2. Metadata last posted
20 May 20252.3. Metadata last update
20 May 2025The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 17 on revitalizing the global partnership for sustainable development and SDG 9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure. SDG 9 and 17 are embedded in the European Commission’s Priority under 'A new era for European Defence and Security'. SDG 17 is also embedded in the European Commission’s Priority 'Protecting our democracy, upholding our values'.
SDG 17 calls for a global partnership for sustainable development. It highlights the importance of macroeconomic stability and of mobilising financial resources for developing countries. It also stresses the importance of trade and equitable rules for governing it. The goal also emphasises the importance of access to science and technology, in particular internet-based information and communications technology.
Making Europe fit for the digital age is consequently one of the six Commission priorities for 2019–2024. 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. SDG 17 recognises the importance of access to science, technology and innovation for sustainable development. The number of broadband internet subscriptions per 100 inhabitants is one of the indicators used by the UN to measure progress towards the related target. In its 2020 Digital Strategy, the European Commission emphasised the EU’s commitment towards developing a Global Digital Cooperation Strategy, which will reflect the SDGs.
In its 2016 Communication ‘Connectivity for a Competitive Digital Single Market — Towards a European Gigabit Society’, the European Commission set out a vision for a European gigabit society, operationalised through three objectives for 2025. The EU aims to have gigabit connectivity for places driving socio-economic developments, 5G coverage for all urban areas and all major terrestrial transport paths, and access for all European households to internet connectivity offering at least 100 Mbps. The Farm to Fork strategy reaffirmed this objective by calling for an acceleration of the roll-out of fast broadband internet in rural areas to achieve the objective of 100 % access by 2025.
In 2021 March, the Commission — in its 2030 Digital Compass — presented a vision and avenues for Europe’s digital transformation by 2030, focusing on four main areas: (1) skills, (2) secure and sustainable digital infrastructures, (3) digital transformation of businesses, and (4) digitalisation of public services. Building on the 2016 Communication, 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.
4.1. Data description
The indicator measures the share of households with fixed very high capacity network (VHCN) connection. Very high capacity network means either an electronic communications network that consists entirely of optical fibre elements at least up to the distribution point at the serving location, or an electronic communications network capable of delivering, under usual peak-time conditions, similar network performance in terms of available downlink and uplink bandwidth, resilience, error-related parameters, and latency and its variation. Data refer to both fibre to the premises (FTTP) and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) 3.1. DOCSIS allows adding high-bandwidth data transfer to existing cable television systems.
'Rural areas' are defined as those with less than 100 people per km2.
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.
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
Broadband coverage in Europe studies' - DG CNECT.
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
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.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
The indicator is updated annually.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+2 years5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within two years after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States respectively other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
5 to 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2019.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological break is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_17_60.
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
