Europe’s Fiber Rollout Accelerates While Adoption Lags
Europe continues to make major progress in rolling out high-speed fiber networks.
The FTTH Council Europe’s FTTH/B Market Panorama 2024 highlights sharp increases in coverage across the EU39 region, while also drawing attention to a widening gap between network availability and consumer adoption.
Europe at a Glance (EU39)
Coverage: 74.6%
Take-Up: 53.1%
Penetration: 39.6%
Homes Passed: 268.8 million
Subscribers: 142.6 million
Key message: Europe has built the infrastructure. The next challenge is converting access into active subscribers.
Understanding the Metrics
Coverage Rate: % of homes that can connect to fiber.
Take-Up Rate: % of homes passed that subscribe.
Penetration Rate: % of all homes that use fiber.
The gap between coverage (74.6%) and penetration (39.6%) is the central issue: consumers are not adopting fiber at the same pace it’s being deployed.
Market Leaders
Countries with strong coverage and mature networks:
Romania: 93.6%
Portugal: 91.1%
France: 90.0%
Spain: 88.8%
Leaders in adoption:
France: 23.7M subscribers (75.4% penetration)
Spain: 15.6M subscribers (80.8% penetration)
These markets demonstrate that high coverage and high adoption can go hand-in-hand.
Growth Engines
Markets showing exceptional year-on-year subscriber acceleration:
Greece: +215%
United Kingdom: +142%
Belgium: +135%
Germany: +54%
These countries are rapidly expanding both infrastructure and take-up, signalling strong near-term market transformation.
Europe’s Core Challenge
Despite impressive rollout progress:
Nearly three-quarters of European homes can access fiber.
Fewer than 40% have adopted it.
With only 53.1% of passed homes subscribing, Europe faces a large, untapped market. The industry must now shift from network build-out to:
Customer acquisition
Clear value communication
Competitive pricing
Service innovation
What Comes Next
The report points to three clear priorities for Europe’s digital future:
Sustain Deployment Success
Fiber now reaches the majority of European homes—this is a strong foundation for long-term growth.Close the Adoption Gap
Converting availability into subscriptions is now the defining challenge for operators and policymakers.Support Diverse National Trajectories
Mature markets are focused on saturation, while emerging markets are experiencing rapid expansion. Each requires tailored strategies.
Europe’s path forward depends on turning its extensive fiber infrastructure into widespread everyday use—unlocking the full value of its digital investment.
Source: FTTH Council Europe – FTTH/B Market Panorama Country Report, September 2024.
