Source: CNA
In 2021, 41% of households in Cyprus enjoyed high-speed internet coverage through fixed very high capacity networks (VHCN) compared with 70% on average in the EU, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
Cyprus had the second lowest coverage in the fixed very high capacity network (VHCN) connections among EU member states, after Greece and right before Italy.
Eurostat defines fiber connections, or other networks offering similar bandwidth, as VHCN connections.
Coverage both in the EU and Cyprus improved compared to 2013 when only 16% of the EU had high-speed internet coverage. In Cyprus that percentage was at 0% in 2013, and started developing in 2018 (0.5%), 2019 (10%) and 2020 (26%).
In a statement to CNA, the Office of Electronic Communications & Postal Regulations (OCECPR) noted that, according to electronic communication network providers, coverage through fixed VHCN connections is expected to improve over the next years.
Cyprus had the second lowest coverage in the fixed very high capacity network (VHCN) connections among EU member states, after Greece and right before Italy.
VHCN connectivity also improved in low settled areas according to Eurostat (low settled areas are defined as having fewer than 100 inhabitants per km2). Between 2013 and 2021, the share of households in low-settled areas with fixed VCHN connections increased from 4% to 37% across the EU.
The share of households in low-settled areas with fixed VCHN connection in Cyprus was at 22.4% in 2021, which increased compared to 2019 (the first year for which coverage is recorded at 16.6%) and to 2020 (19.5%).
Among member states, Malta recorded high-speed internet coverage for all households (100%), followed by Luxembourg (96%), Denmark (95%) and Spain (94%).
In contrast, fixed high-speed internet connections were the least widespread in Greece (20%), Cyprus (41%) and Italy (44%).
In low-settled areas, the most widespread coverage was reported in Malta (100%), followed by Luxembourg, Denmark and the Netherlands (all 79%).
Meanwhile, the least widespread coverage in low-settled areas was reported in Greece (0%), followed by Czechia (7%) and Finland (12%).
In 2021, the European Commission set a 2030 target of achieving gigabit connectivity in all EU households and 5G coverage for all populated areas.
Considerable progress has already been made in the rollout of fixed very high capacity network (VHCN) connections across the EU.
