Infrastructure analysis: which country has the best internet in Europe?

Research from virtual private server host VPS Server says Iceland has the fastest and best internet in Europe, with Spain and Romania in second and third place.

The ranking, that judges value as well as quality, is based on analysis of mean internet speeds, percentage of households with access to the internet, the cost for 1gb of mobile data and the average price for broadband internet.

VPS Server’s report names the top ten countries in Europe as Iceland, Spain, Romania, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Lichtenstein, the UK, Malta and Poland. It provides the following detail on each country:

1 – Iceland

Iceland has a well-developed internet infrastructure and is known for its high internet penetration rate, 98% of households have access to the internet. The country has made significant investments in broadband connectivity, and most Icelanders have access to high-speed internet, which has mean speeds of 216 Mbps. Average internet prices are quite high at £60; however, the quality of the internet and infrastructure may justify this.

2 – Spain

Spain has a robust internet infrastructure, with widespread access to high-speed broadband connections, 96% of households have access to the internet with mean speeds of 115 Mbps. Spain is known for its vibrant online community and has a thriving e-commerce sector. Internet here is much cheaper, with 1gb of mobile data averaging 0.47p and broadband costing £24.

3 – Romania

Romania has made significant progress in developing its internet infrastructure. Still, only 89% of households have internet access, but those with mean speeds of 112 Mbps and are only paying around £5.90 for broadband and 0.35p per 1gb of mobile data.

4 – France

France has extensive coverage of high-speed broadband connections throughout the country. Ninety-two percent of households have internet access, and the mean speeds reach around 120 Mbps. Although more expensive than in Romania, prices are still reasonable, with broadband costing an average of £27. However, mobile data is even cheaper, with 1gb costing around 0.18p on average.

5 – Luxembourg

Luxembourg has excellent internet, with 97% of households having access to the internet and those that do have mean speeds of 131 Mbps. The country has a favourable regulatory environment for digital businesses; thus, it is in the country’s interest to keep its Internet infrastructure strong and stable. However, it has the eighth highest average internet price of £44.21.

6 – Netherlands

The Netherlands has one of the highest internet penetration rates globally, with most of the population being active internet users (98%). Mean speeds in the Netherlands are 113 Mbps, much above the European average of 71 Mbps. Prices for broadband average at £37, which is just above the average in Europe (£26.19); however, when you’re getting high-quality internet, that cost can often be justified.

7 – Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein has a relatively small population, but it has developed its internet to provide mean speeds that are some of the best in Europe, with 166 Mbps. The internet spreads to 95% of households and costs, on average, £47, which is quite a bit above the average of the rest of the continent. Mobile data is also much more expensive at £3 per 1gb of data.

8 – United Kingdom

The internet is widely used in the UK for communication, social networking, e-commerce, and entertainment. The country has a robust digital economy and has been at the forefront of technological advancements. However, compared to much of the EU, the UK has very average mean speeds of 72 Mbps. 97% of UK households have access to the internet, and the average cost is £26, which aligns with the EU average cost.

9 – Malta

Malta has made significant strides in improving its internet infrastructure in recent years and now boasts mean speeds of 107 Mbps costing around £21 for broadband. However, mobile data is still expensive costing £2.32 per 1gb. Malta has been proactive in embracing digital technologies and has implemented initiatives to support the growth of the digital economy, economic development, and an interconnected society.

10 – Poland

Much like other Eastern Europe countries, Poland has very good internet prices, with average broadband costing £13 and 1gb of mobile data costing 0.32p. Although the price may reflect the quality, the mean speeds in Poland are around 55 Mbps, which is slightly lower than the average speeds in Europe.

Source: www.vpsserver.com

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