Broadband Rollout in Europe 2025 – Quo Vadis?

Broadband has become a cornerstone of Europe’s economic strategy, supporting everything from remote work to e-commerce, and driving innovation in industries crucial to the continent’s future.

According to the European Commission, universal broadband availability by 2030 is a central goal of the EU Digital Decade. Germany and France, as the EU’s main economic engines, are aligning their broadband strategies with this vision, aiming for full connectivity with Fiber to the Home (FTTH) and Fiber to the Building (FTTB) in the upcoming years. Meanwhile, the UK, although no longer part of the EU, remains a major player in the European digital landscape and is continuing its domestic broadband push. These ambitious plans are influenced by changing political landscapes and developing regulatory frameworks – factors that will affect both consumers and businesses.

With funding programs in place and deadlines looming, the question remains: Will European countries move closer to their strategic targets this year, and how will political and economic shifts influence the trajectory of Europe’s broadband future?

Gigabit Strategy for Germany: A Fiber-Based National Transformation

Germany remains focused on advancing its digital infrastructure this year, with the expansion of fiber optics remaining a crucial aspect for further progress. In the 2024 edition of the FTTH/B Market Panorama, the FTTH Council Europe identified Germany, along with Italy and the UK, as one of the  countries with the most work to do in broadband expansion. As of September 2023, 40.3% of all German households were connected to FTTH/B, with only 23% of households in rural areas (fewer than 150 inhabitants per km²) covered. In contrast, neighboring countries like the Netherlands (81.9% coverage) and France (84.4% coverage) have made significant strides in FTTH/B rollout, leaving Germany playing catch-up in the digital infrastructure race.

Despite this, Germany has been one of the most steadily growing FTTH/B markets in recent years. According to a new EY study from January 2025, the number of households connected to fiber networks grew by an average of 33% per year from 2021 to 2024. This constant rise signals that Germany has recognized broadband rollout as an integral part of its economic growth.

In the coalition agreement of the German Federal Government in 2021, digital infrastructure was identified as one of the national priorities. In 2022, Germany launched its Gigabitstrategie der Bundesregierung (Federal Gigabit Strategy), which outlines plans to connect all households and businesses to fiber optics by 2030. The Federal Government allocated €17 billion to support the expansion of broadband. The strategy’s first major milestone is to triple the number of fiber connections by the end of 2025, thereby ensuring that half of all households and businesses in the country are covered by fiber optics. 

Through its main public funding program, Gigabitförderung 2.0, the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport aims to expand gigabit networks in areas where private-sector expansion is not planned. Last year, the federal government cut gigabit funding by €1 billion; instead of €3 billion, only €2 billion was available for 2024. In 2025, funding is set to increase again – a total of €2.93 billion has been allocated in the German national budget for broadband expansion.

Despite this progress, certain challenges continue to exist. While the EY study predicts that Germany is likely to achieve and even surpass its target of 50% fiber coverage by the end of 2025, the future of the 2030 plan will depend on forthcoming decisions regarding broadband policy and funding. In an increasingly connected world, sustainable optimization of broadband infrastructure will be crucial in helping Germany meet its digital transformation goals.

Plan France Très Haut Debit: “Very High-Speed” Broadband Availability for All

France’s broadband strategy is driven by the Plan France Très Haut Débit (PFTHD), which has set the goal of 100% broadband coverage with speeds of at least 30 Mbps by 2022, focusing on rural and underserved areas. By 2025, France aims to reach 98% FTTH/B coverage, with distinct strategies for high-density areas, where private operators lead deployments, and rural areas, where Public Initiative Networks (RIP) receive public funding. France assigned €3.3 billion to the PFTHD implementation, with an additional €240 million allocated to boost connectivity in rural areas.

According to the FTTH Council Europe, France has made significant strides in broadband infrastructure, with 84.4% of households covered by FTTH/B networks by September 2023. Arcep, the French telecommunications regulator, shared in its latest December update that fiber optic coverage in the country reached 90% by the end of the third quarter of 2024. Of the 44.5 million premises surveyed by operators, 39.9 million were connected to fiber optics, with another 4.6 million to be connected in 2025.

In comparison to several other countries, France identified the potential of fiber optics at an early stage and began investing in network deployment. These substantial investments have allowed France to ensure a smooth transition to fiber optics for households and businesses in recent years. With fiber infrastructure steadily growing, France is on track to achieve nationwide FTTH/B coverage, creating a solid foundation for future digital growth and connectivity. Any revisions in 2025 will likely focus on achieving nationwide FTTH/B coverage and addressing connectivity in the most rural and underserved areas through additional public-private investments.

Project Gigabit in the UK: A Look Beyond Borders

The UK remains one of Europe's largest economies, and its broadband expansion efforts are worth examining. UK government has set ambitious targets, aiming to provide full-fiber, gigabit-capable broadband to 85% of homes and businesses by 2025 and achieve nationwide coverage by 2030. According to Ofcom, the regulator for the UK’s communications services, 20.7 million premises, or 69% of households, can access full-fiber broadband in 2024. Combining full-fiber and cable networks, 83% of the country now has access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection. These figures suggest that the target of 85% coverage by 2025 will most likely be achieved.

At the heart of UK efforts is Project Gigabit, a £5 billion government program launched in 2021. Its primary goal is to deliver gigabit broadband to underserved areas, including rural communities that are often overlooked by commercial providers. By focusing on these areas, Project Gigabit aims to bridge the digital divide and boost economic activity in regions with slower connections. A key element of this initiative is the use of public funding to encourage private-sector investment, ensuring that areas which were previously considered commercially unfeasible are now being covered. The government’s focus on accelerating infrastructure deployment has spurred competition in the broadband infrastructure market, with new players and regional networks entering the scene. This competition is expected to drive innovation and further expand fiber optics coverage in the UK.

Conclusion

As the digital sector grows ever more important, reliable and fast broadband connectivity is becoming increasingly essential for Europe’s competitiveness on the global stage. Both consumers and industry stakeholders are anticipating shifts in the year ahead. In 2025, Europe stands at a critical juncture: the digital agendas were affected by numerous changes in European governments over the past year and there are still many more to come. The effects of these changes will shape the continent’s role in the global digital economy for decades to come.

The broadband industry is at a pivotal point, with government funding driving rural infrastructure projects and network upgrades. At the same time, rapid advancements in technologies such as AI and automation are increasing the demand for high-performance, future-proof networks. Fiber will play a significant role in these networks. To address this rapidly growing demand, industry leaders have already made substantial investments. In 2022, Corning opened a new optical fiber manufacturing facility in Poland to meet the growing need for high-speed connectivity in the European Union and its vicinity. This facility is one of the largest of its kind in the European Union, underscoring Corning’s commitment to supporting the region's broadband infrastructure needs. Such critical investments made by the private sector are driving Europe’s broadband availability goals. With continued political commitment to prioritize and fund broadband initiatives, these efforts will be key to supporting the success of both domestic and trans-European digital transformation projects.

Tobias Schubert, Marketing Manager Major Accounts at Corning Optical Communications, is an experienced manager of major clients with a long history in the telecommunications industry. Before taking over the role of Marketing Manager Major Accounts, he held various positions at Corning in commercial roles such as Finance, Sales Management and Marketing. Schubert studied Economics at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau in Brandenburg, Germany.