Global Fixed Broadband: Subscriptions, Fibre Share and Speeds

ITU estimates that global fixed broadband penetration is 20 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2025, now above the historical peak of 19 fixed-telephone lines per 100 inhabitants recorded in 2006 [1]. Fixed broadband subscriptions grew by an average of 5.2% a year over the past five years, while fixed-telephone subscriptions shrank by 3% a year [1]. Fixed broadband penetration remains far below mobile broadband penetration [1].

Ericsson counts 1.62 billion fixed broadband connections at the end of 2024 and 1.69 billion at the end of 2025 [3].

ITU reports that global fixed broadband penetration has doubled over the past decade and that service quality has improved [4]. Today 96% of fixed connections advertise speeds above 10 Mbit/s and 76% exceed 100 Mbit/s [4]. Low-income countries lag: fewer than one in five fixed connections exceed 10 Mbit/s and one in 20 exceed 100 Mbit/s [4].

Across OECD countries, fixed broadband penetration reached 36.5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants at the end of 2024, up from 32 in 2019 [2]. The fibre share of fixed broadband subscriptions reached 47% at the end of 2024, up from 28% in 2019 [2].

Five OECD members had a fibre share above 80%: Iceland (93%), Korea (90.5%), Spain (89%), Finland (81.6%) and Lithuania (80.7%) [2].

Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) tripled its share of OECD fixed broadband subscriptions, from 2% in 2019 to 6% at the end of 2024, an average annual growth rate of 24% [2].

Ericsson forecasts 2.03 billion fixed broadband connections in 2031, growth of 3% a year from 2025 [3]. Within this, FWA connections are forecast to rise from 185 million in 2025 to 350 million, and satellite broadband subscriptions from 10 million to 33 million [3]. Total fixed data traffic is forecast to grow from 380 EB per month in 2025 to 710 EB per month in 2031 [3].

Global penetration and growth figures come from ITU Facts and Figures 2025 [1], and speed shares from the ITU Global Connectivity Report 2025 [4]. ITU and OECD define fixed broadband as subscriptions with advertised download speeds of at least 256 kbit/s. OECD figures cover OECD member countries only and refer to the end of 2024 [2]. Ericsson connection counts and forecasts come from its Mobility Report key figures; forecasts are marked with an F [3]. Figures from different publishers use different definitions and should not be combined. No FREEE.REPORT calculations are used.