Indicator 17.60 High-speed internet coverage, by type of area

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.

Indicator 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’. 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 March 2021, 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.