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Internet in Portugal reached an 88% household penetration rate in 2022, with notably higher access rates in households with children. Among individuals aged 16 to 74, mobile internet use is prevalent, at 81.8%, primarily for communication and information access. [1]
In the 2022 Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) report, Portugal is ranked 18th in Connectivity among the 27 European Union (EU) member countries. This positioning highlights the country's progress and challenges in broadband uptake within the EU context. The report reveals an increase in overall fixed broadband adoption, increasing from 75% in 2019 to 81% in 2021, which places it slightly above the EU average of 78%. Notably, the adoption rate of fixed broadband connections with speeds of at least 100 Mbps grew from 56% in 2019 to 68% in 2021, exceeding the EU average of 41%. Additionally, Portugal showcased strong Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) and Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) coverage for households, achieving rates of 91% and 88% respectively. These figures surpass the EU benchmarks of 70% for VHCN and 50% for FTTP coverage. [7] [8]
The fixed broadband market is predominantly controlled by three major integrated operators: Altice-MEO (40.8%), NOS (36%), and Vodafone (19.8%), collectively holding 96.6% of the market share as of the third quarter of 2021. Bundled packages are the preferred choice for most fixed broadband services, with multiple-play bundles being especially popular, achieving a penetration rate of 90.3%. Since 2021, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks have emerged as the primary infrastructure for delivering pay-TV services, with 56% of subscribers opting for this. The expansion of pay-TV has been attributed to the development of FTTH networks. [8]
Mobile broadband usage among individuals in Portugal increased to 82% in 2021, up from 72% in 2018, yet it slightly trails the EU average uptake of 87%. Despite this progress, Portugal's advancement in 5G deployment was notably absent in 2021, with 0% coverage, while other EU member countries were significantly ahead, achieving an average 5G coverage of 66% across populated areas. Nonetheless, Portugal has made significant strides in the strategic allocation of the 5G spectrum, with 61% of the total harmonized 5G spectrum assigned by April 2022. This represents a substantial increase from just 8% in previous years, positioning Portugal ahead of the EU average of 56%. [8]
In the 2022 DESI report, Portugal is recognized for its developments in Digital Public Services, ranking 14th among EU countries. The country experienced growth in e-government users, increasing from 54% in 2019 to 59% in 2021, yet it remains slightly below the EU average of 65%. In the domain of open data, Portugal achieved a score of 66%, indicating a need for further progress to reach the EU average of 81%. [8]
Portugal's transition to a digital-first government is supported by key initiatives such as the Digital Transformation Strategy for Public Administration (SDTPA) and the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), which are aimed at digitizing public administration. Currently, over 95% of essential public services are available online, focusing on integration through the Interoperability Platform (iAP) for both citizens and businesses. The adoption of a cloud-first strategy and the implementation of a single digital gateway further align the country with European digital strategies. However, the digital skills gap remains a challenge, potentially affecting the effective adoption of e-government services. To address this issue, initiatives like EU SOU Digital are focusing on improving digital literacy among adults who have not previously engaged with the internet. [8]
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ADSL service has been available in Portugal since 2000, however it was not until 2002 that the service started to see wide acceptance from the general public, mainly due to increased competition from service providers, which helped to level prices. Market penetration in Portugal is around 50% although Portugal has the distinction of being one of the few European countries to have coverage in virtually the entire territory.
There are several service providers offering ADSL, fiber and wireless services in Portugal to the residential and the professional markets. The majority of the residential market is split between the two larger operators: Portugal Telecom and Sonae.
The current maximum speed for home Internet plans in Portugal is 1 Gbit/s, available on special request, and 360 Mbit/s is widely available together with television and telephone services.
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Internet access in Portugal is not restricted. [9] There are neither government restrictions on access to the Internet nor reports that the government monitors e-mail or Internet chat rooms without appropriate legal authority. The constitution and law provide for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combine to ensure freedom of speech and press. The law criminalizes the denigration of ethnic or religious minorities and the engagement in offensive practices such as Holocaust denial. Prison sentences for these crimes run between six months to eight years. The constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government generally respected these prohibitions in practice, [10] except in more recent years (see below).
The website Tugaleaks, which since December 2010 aims to serve as Portugal's version of WikiLeaks, had its bank account for donations arbitrarily closed on 13 July 2012 with no official communication. Tugaleaks contributors were finally told the account had been closed for its involvement in money laundering and terrorist financing. [11]
As of March 2015, Portuguese ISPs have been ordered to block The Pirate Bay and many of its proxies by a court order, following the European trend, after a lawsuit brought by the Association for Copyright Management, Producers and Publishers (GEDIPE). This is the first time ever a website is blocked by ISPs in Portugal. [12]
In July 2015 the Ministry of Culture announced the signed a memorandum between its own General Inspection of Cultural Activities (IGAC), the Portuguese Association of Telecommunication Operators (APRITEL), various rightsholder groups, the body responsible for administering Portugal’s .PT domain and representatives from the advertising industry to block any website they deemed appropriate. These measures have resulted on thousands of websites blocked under the charges of copyright infringement and gambling. [13] One notable example of blocked copyrighted materials are internet databases that publish copyrighted scientific literature, such as LibGen.[ citation needed ] Such databases are often the only practical source of academic publications for scientists, the public and universities who can't afford subscription/licensing fees for scientific journals.
Telecommunications in Finland, as indicated by a 2022 European Commission index, highlight the country's significant role in the EU's digital sector. Finland has a high concentration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) specialists and robust training programs, leading to notable expertise in technologies like AI and cloud computing. The nation has also made significant advancements in 5G technology. Additionally, Finland stands out for its high adoption of digital public services. The Finnish digital sector benefits from both the technology industry's contributions and government policies aimed at enhancing digital infrastructure and cybersecurity.
Telecommunications in Latvia encompass a broad range of services including the internet, telephones, television, and radio.
Telecommunications in Lithuania include internet, radio, television, and telephony.
Luxembourg is recognized for establishing local television and radio stations abroad. The RTL Group, originating from Luxembourg, operates in numerous countries. Additionally, Luxembourg is the base for SES, a leading global satellite operator.
Telecommunications in Slovenia encompass internet, telephone, radio, and television services.
Telecommunications in Austria encompass highly developed and efficient internet and telephone networks, complemented by a number of radio and television broadcast stations.
Mobile broadband is the marketing term for wireless Internet access via mobile networks. Access to the network can be made through a portable modem, wireless modem, or a tablet/smartphone or other mobile device. The first wireless Internet access became available in 1991 as part of the second generation (2G) of mobile phone technology. Higher speeds became available in 2001 and 2006 as part of the third (3G) and fourth (4G) generations. In 2011, 90% of the world's population lived in areas with 2G coverage, while 45% lived in areas with 2G and 3G coverage. Mobile broadband uses the spectrum of 225 MHz to 3700 MHz.
According to research done by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Netherlands is ranked with Switzerland in having the most broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants, has no bandwidth caps, and has the most homes passed in Europe in terms of connection speeds of 50 Mbit/s and higher.
Internet in Belgium has a high level of adoption and engagement, with a 93% uptake rate among individuals as of 2022, higher than the EU average of 89%. The country is on par with the EU average regarding digital skills, with 54% of its population having at least basic digital competencies. Illustrated through initiatives like the BeCentral digital campus, Belgium has created programs to boost digital literacy, which has trained over 425,000 students since 2017 to narrow the digital skills gap.
Internet usage in Ireland was reported at a 95% rate among individuals by 2022, higher than the European Union (EU) average of 89%. According to the European Commission's Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2023 report, 70% of Irish adults had at least basic digital skills in 2021, above the EU average of 54%. Additionally, 77% demonstrated basic digital content creation skills, exceeding the EU average of 66%. Ireland's National Digital Strategy, along with the 10-year Adult Literacy for Life strategy, aims to enhance digital competencies across the workforce and society.
Internet in Malta plays a key role in enhancing the nation's digital infrastructure and public services.
The Internet in Croatia became a reality in November 1992 when the first international connection linking Zagreb and Vienna became operational.
Internet in Greece reached an 82% usage rate among individuals in 2022, yet it slightly trails behind the European Union averages in digital skills among individuals aged 16-74, as highlighted in the European Commission's Digital Decade Country Report 2023. In an effort to bridge this gap and enhance digital proficiency across the nation, Greece implemented the "Works Again" law in April 2022. This law is designed to modernize the Public Employment Service, aligning it more closely with the demands of the labor market and vocational training needs. Additionally, Greece has launched a strategic initiative for Vocational Education and Training (VET) and lifelong learning. This initiative aims to revamp educational curricula to include digital and green skills.
This article is about the Internet in Spain.
The term "Internet in Poland" refers to various aspects related to the state of the Internet in the Republic of Poland. This encompasses issues such as Internet access, governance, freedom, and infrastructure, as well as social, economic, and political factors that contribute to the digital landscape in Poland.
Sweden's internet usage in 2022 was 96%, higher than the European Union (EU) average of 89%. This contributes to Sweden's digital skills development, with 67% of Swedes possessing basic digital skills, compared to the EU's 54%. Additionally, 36% of Swedes have above-basic digital skills and 77% have basic digital content creation skills, exceeding the EU averages of 26% and 66%, respectively. Codeweek 2022 in Sweden also demonstrated gender inclusivity, with a female participation rate of 51%.
Internet usage is notably extensive in Switzerland, with 96% of the population aged between 15 and 88 engaging online in 2021. This figure demonstrates a wide adoption across age demographics, highlighted by the fact that over half of those aged 75 and above are daily internet users. The country's advanced broadband infrastructure plays a key role in facilitating this level of usage. By the end of 2022, Switzerland was ranked highest in broadband penetration among the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Internet in Estonia has one of the highest penetration rates in the world. In the first quarter of 2010, 75% out of 1.34 million people in the country used the Internet according to Statistics Estonia. In 2017, according to the World Bank came 13th in the world by the percentage of population using the Internet, with 88.1% people using it.
Telecommunications in Denmark encompasses a well-developed network of internet, telephone services, and broadcasting stations. Denmark has high internet connectivity and widespread mobile broadband adoption.
The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) monitors Europe's overall digital performance and tracks the progress of European Union (EU) countries regarding their digital competitiveness. On an annual basis, it monitors the performance of member states in digital connectivity, digital skills, online activity and digital public services in order to assess the state of digitalization of each member state as well as to identify areas requiring priority investment and action.
