Only 317,000 of these connections are currently activated – and therefore almost 17 percent of the potential. According to the RTR Internet Monitor, 1.9 million broadband connections could currently be established. However, there is at least one positive trend: the number of activated connections up to the first quarter has increased by 22 percent within a year.
“There is still a lot of room for improvement in demand,” said Klaus Steinmaurer, RTR’s managing director for telecommunications and postal services. “The alternatives are apparently still good enough for many people. But I assume that this will change soon.”
This is also reflected in user behavior: in the first quarter of this year, 2,950 petabytes of data volume – ten percent more than a year earlier – were consumed via fixed and mobile networks. The data volume transmitted via mobile networks increased by 17 percent to 1,266 petabytes. The data volume via landline networks only increased by almost seven percent to 1,684 petabytes.
Energie AG second largest provider
Around 751,000 of the 1.9 million available connections are in Vienna. There is already capacity for 276,000 connections in Upper Austria and around 266,000 connections in Lower Austria. Burgenland has the fewest households and is therefore at the bottom of the list in Austria with 17,500 available connections.
There are currently a large number of mostly smaller providers. With a 30.3 percent market share, A1 Telekom Austria is the market leader for fiber optic connections, followed by Energie AG Oberösterreich (6.9 percent) and Kabelplus (6.8 percent).
More on the topic
Real estate: fiber optic network is an important purchase criterion
How is the demand for fiber optic connections different between urban and rural regions in Austria?
Iterion
The increasing importance of a reliable and fast internet connection, particularly through fiber optic networks, is becoming a significant factor for homebuyers. In the current real estate market, the availability of a fiber optic network is often seen as a key selling point, influencing how properties are valued and sought after.
As demonstrated in the data collected, the consumption of data via fixed and mobile networks has risen sharply, indicating a growing reliance on internet connectivity for both personal and professional needs. This trend is further echoed in the telecommunications market, where A1 Telekom Austria leads with a substantial market share, followed closely by Energie AG Oberösterreich and Kabelplus.
In urban centers like Vienna, the demand for fiber optic connections is palpable, with significant numbers of available connections in metropolitan areas compared to rural regions such as Burgenland. This disparity highlights the ongoing digital divide and the necessity for enhanced connectivity options as the digital landscape continues to evolve.
it is clear that fiber optic networks are not only enhancing internet service but are also emerging as a crucial factor in real estate decisions, reflecting broader shifts in user behavior and technology reliance.