Northern Europe leads global connectivity with 98% internet penetration, yet rural gaps persist, writes Vincent Garnier, Director General of the FTTH Council Europe. Expanding fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) is essential for inclusion and competitiveness.
Northern Europe today stands among the most connected regions in the world, with internet penetration rates approaching 98%. This milestone reflects the region’s outstanding commitment to building resilient, high-performance networks capable of supporting the digital economy.
However, even in such advanced markets, pockets of under-connected or underserved communities remain. Extending full-fibre connectivity to these areas is critical – not only for social inclusion but also for Europe’s long-term competitiveness.
Closing the connectivity gap
Fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) plays a pivotal role in bridging this final digital divide. Unlike copper or wireless alternatives, FTTH offers virtually unlimited capacity, symmetrical bandwidth, and minimal latency. This combination makes it uniquely suited to deliver consistent gigabit-level performance, regardless of distance from the network core.
In rural or remote areas, full-fibre deployment has historically proven challenging, due to higher civil engineering costs and lower population density. However, innovative deployment models, public-private partnerships, and targeted policy instruments are helping to accelerate rollout. Initiatives such as the Gigabit Infrastructure Act (GIA) aim to reduce administrative barriers, streamline permitting, and facilitate access to passive infrastructure, all of which lowers costs and speed up fibre expansion.
By extending fibre deeper into every community, Europe can not only ensure equitable digital access but also lays the foundation for new economic activity. From precision agriculture and remote education to local entrepreneurship, FTTH enables smaller regions to participate fully in the digital ecosystem.
Managing the surge in data demand
Globally, video now accounts for the majority of internet traffic, with streaming, conferencing, and content creation driving continuous growth in bandwidth demand. At the same time, critical sectors such as healthcare, finance, and energy increasingly rely on real-time data transmission where any degradation in service could have serious consequences.
FTTH infrastructure is evolving to manage this surge efficiently. Operators are investing in scalable optical technologies – such as 10 Gigabit Symmetric Passive Optical Networks (XGS-PON) – which increase network capacity in line with demand without the need for disruptive upgrades. Fibre’s inherent resilience and low latency make it ideal for balancing heavy consumer usage with mission-critical traffic, while its physical characteristics also enhance cybersecurity – fibre is far more resistant to signal interference or tapping than copper-based systems, offering a secure foundation for sensitive data transmission.
For example, hospitals adopting telemedicine solutions or connected diagnostic systems require guaranteed service quality and data integrity. Financial institutions operating algorithmic trading or digital payment systems depend on millisecond-level responsiveness. Fibre networks, when properly engineered and managed, can support both, ensuring that streaming entertainment and essential digital services coexist without compromise.
Enabling the Internet of Things (IoT)
The rapid proliferation of IoT devices is transforming industries across Europe. From manufacturing lines equipped with smart sensors to cities deploying intelligent transport and energy systems, billions of devices are constantly exchanging information. These applications demand secure, reliable, and low-latency communication, which is precisely where FTTH excels.
By delivering direct, high-capacity connectivity to premises and business sites, FTTH provides a stable foundation for local and wide-area IoT networks. Its symmetrical performance ensures that the continuous flow of upstream data, often generated by sensors and machines, is handled efficiently. Moreover, fibre’s immunity to electromagnetic interference enhances security and reliability, which are essential in industrial and healthcare settings.
However, challenges remain. Network operators and enterprises must ensure that IoT traffic is prioritised and protected, especially as data volumes scale. Cybersecurity frameworks, interoperability standards, and coordinated spectrum management for complementary wireless systems are all crucial. A holistic approach, where fibre acts as the anchor for a secure, integrated connectivity environment, is key to unlocking the full potential of IoT.
Complementarity with 5G and beyond
FTTH and 5G are often viewed as separate technologies, but in reality, they are deeply complementary. Fibre acts as the backbone infrastructure to connect 5G base stations and empower mobile networks to deliver the ultra-low latency and high capacity promised by next-generation wireless.
This convergence creates powerful opportunities for European businesses. In industrial environments, 5G’s flexibility and mobility combined with fibre’s stability and bandwidth enable seamless automation, predictive maintenance, and edge computing. In urban areas, integrated fibre-and-5G ecosystems support connected vehicles, smart buildings, and public-safety systems.
The success of this hybrid model lives or dies on cross-sector collaboration. Telecommunications providers, utilities, municipalities, and technology firms must align investment strategies and share infrastructure wherever possible. By doing so, Europe can accelerate deployment while maintaining cost efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Policy, investment, and collaboration for a fibre-ready Europe
To reach universal gigabit coverage and maintain global competitiveness, Europe must continue to close investment gaps, particularly in underserved and rural regions. While public funding programmes are vital for large-scale deployment, private investment should be allocated in areas where there is no viable business case for fibre. In this sense, ensuring a stable, predictable regulatory environment that supports long-term returns on infrastructure is crucial.
Just as important is the continued transition away from legacy copper networks. The copper switch-off is a crucial enabler of efficiency and progress: it reduces operational costs, encourages migration to fibre services, and allows resources to be redirected toward network expansion. Managed effectively, this process can accelerate adoption without disrupting end-users, while also delivering environmental benefits through reduced energy consumption.
Policy measures such as the GIA can further boost progress by simplifying deployment procedures and promoting infrastructure sharing. These should also spur governments and regulators to create favourable conditions for investment by supporting open-access models and ensuring fair competition. Of course, collaboration across the digital value chain is equally critical. Network operators, equipment suppliers, public authorities, and end-user industries must work together to align incentives and coordinate planning.
Building Europe’s intelligent future
Europe’s digital ambitions rest on the ability to connect every citizen, enterprise, and community with reliable, high-capacity infrastructure – and FTTH is at the heart of this mission.
As IoT adoption accelerates, data volumes multiply, and the boundaries between fixed and mobile connectivity blur, fibre networks will remain the essential enabler of progress. By combining targeted policy, sustainable investment, and strong collaboration among stakeholders, Europe can ensure that its connectivity foundations are as resilient and forward-looking as its technological ambitions. In doing so, it will not only close the digital divide but also strengthen its position as a global leader in innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation.
Author biography:
Vincent Garnier has been Director General of the FTTH Council Europe since July 2020. In this executive capacity, Vincent manages and shapes the FTTH Council’s agenda and ensures the continuous implementation of its mission to advance ubiquitous full fibre-based connectivity to the whole of Europe. Garnier brings to this position 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, in Marketing and Business Development in EMEA and Asia for BtoB companies.
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