A Year of Significant Growth
The past year has witnessed a remarkable surge in FTTH and FTTB deployment across the EU39 region*. The growth trajectory is undeniable: the number of homes passed in 2023 compared to the previous year paints a picture of an industry on the rise.
In September 2023, the EU39 witnessed a surge in connectivity, with 244 million homes passed with FTTH and FTTB services, compared to nearly 221 million in September 2022.
The Fibre Landscape in Europe: A Comprehensive Overview
As the tapestry of Europe's digital infrastructure evolves, the threads of FTTH/B weave a compelling narrative. Such an intricate web of connectivity not only underscores the continent's commitment to technological advancement but also highlights the challenges and triumphs faced by individual nations.
Growth Trajectories and Rankings: Fibre Deployment in EU27+UK and EU39
The data spanning from September 2018 to September 2023 offers insights into the fastest-growing markets in terms of both volume and percentage growth for Fibre Sockets Deployed across the EU27 and the UK.
In the realm of FTTH market trends, the United Kingdom leads the charge of main movers in terms of homes passed in absolute numbers with an impressive addition of 4,7 million homes, closely followed by Germany’s 4,4 million and France’s 2,5 million.
Belgium tops the annual chart for growth rates in terms of homes passed with a 43% increase. The United Kingdom trails closely with 38%, followed by Germany 37%, Serbia at 30%, and Croatia at 28%. The FTTH/B coverage in the EU39 has risen to 69,9%, marking a 6,5% increase from 2022.
Moreover, the coverage rate in the EU27+UK has now reached the 64,5% mark, a significant leap from 55,1% in 2022. These data re-confirm the continuous upward trend observed for several years in a row now.
Subscription Dynamics in European Households
A nuanced understanding of the Fibre to the Home and Building landscape and FTTH market panorama also requires a look at data on European households with and without subscriptions. This perspective offers insights into user adoption and market penetration across the continent.
Overall, the contribution of EU27+UK to the total is increasing, both for home passed and subscriptions, however, the report observes that more needs to be done in terms of subscriptions to reach the 2030 Digital Decade objectives of the European Commission, as only 1 in 4 countries exceeds the 50% penetration rate. In particular, Germany, UK and Italy have the most work to do, with 48 million homes left to pass among them.
Finally, in terms of technology choices, it is worth mentioning that gigabit-capable technologies such as 5G FWA, G.fast and Docsis 3.1/4.0 are still being deployed to meet the current home bandwidth demands, delaying FTTH in some areas.
Stay Connected with the FTTH Council Europe
If you're keen on staying ahead of the curve in the Fibre to the Home and Fibre to the Building sectors, the FTTH Council Europe is your go-to source for a wealth of insights.
Joining the FTTH Council Europe allows you to collaborate with leading industry professionals, gain access to invaluable knowledge, and benefit from a platform designed for networking with pioneers in the field. Deepen your expertise and strengthen your position in the field of fibre connectivity through your association with the FTTH Council Europe.
Notes:
-EU39: 27 members of the European Union plus the United Kingdom, four CIS nations, Iceland, Israel, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey are referred to as the EU39.
- Data in this article refers to figures at September 2022