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 does the rising consumption of mobile data affect the real estate market trends?
Iterion
In the current digital landscape, fast and reliable internet access has become a critical consideration for prospective home buyers. As noted, the increasing data consumption—with a significant rise in mobile network usage—indicates a growing dependence on internet connectivity for both personal and professional purposes.
In Austria, data usage through fixed and mobile networks soared to an impressive 2,950 petabytes in the first quarter of this year, marking a ten percent increase from the previous year. Notably, mobile network data consumption surged by 17 percent, underlining the shift of more users relying on mobile devices for their internet needs.
As the market evolves, having robust internet infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a necessity. Areas with substantial fiber optic networks, such as Vienna, Upper Austria, and Lower Austria, are better positioned to attract buyers who prioritize connectivity. A1 Telekom Austria clearly leads the market with a 30.3 percent share in fiber optic connections, but other providers like Energie AG and Kabelplus are also making their presence felt in this burgeoning market.
The availability of fiber optic connections, which can significantly impact internet speeds and reliability, is becoming a deciding factor in real estate purchases. Properties in regions equipped with a strong fiber optic infrastructure are viewed as more desirable, potentially driving up their value as more buyers seek to ensure seamless connectivity.
as digital reliance continues to grow, speedy internet—especially through fiber optics—will remain a key criterion for real estate decisions, affecting both market trends and property values.
