Broadband internet coverage in the EU is 95%

In the European Union, the proportion of the population that has access to a broadband internet connection on demand has reached 95%, according to the European Commission's scoreboard published in Brussels on Monday.

The overall assessment concluded that the demand for the Internet, mobile phones and digital technology in general in the Union would be sufficient to generate sustainable economic growth. However, this process is hampered by technical shortcomings, insufficient training and other supply-side difficulties.

The evaluation considers the most spectacular shift in the recent period to be higher data traffic and growing interest in mobile technologies and services. According to data, the information and communication technology sector currently provides 8 million jobs and produces 6% of the EU's gross domestic product (GDP). Over the next three years, the sector will need an additional 700 people.

Among the problem areas, the report mentions that half of the workforce does not have sufficient IT skills in case they need to find a new job. The committee also reduces the proportion of online purchases, especially those that people do not make in the home country via the World Wide Web. The evaluation also provided statistics on the situation in each Member State. Among other things, Hungary states that broadband internet use increased last year (to 22,1 percent), but is still below the EU average of 27,7 percent. There has been a significant increase in mobile broadband usage, but it is still well below the EU average.

In Hungary, which is close to the EU average, the proportion of regular Internet users has fallen to 28% of those who have never used the device. The report finds the size of internet commerce to be low at both the retail and corporate levels. In public administration, on the other hand, the internet ratio is increasingly approaching the EU average.

 

Source: MTI