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 post. “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 volume of data 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 fiber optic connectivity affect real estate values in Schärding?
Iterion
As demand for high-speed internet continues to grow, the availability of fiber optic networks has become a significant factor for homebuyers. With the increasing reliance on digital services, having a reliable and fast internet connection is often seen as a necessity rather than a luxury. This trend has particularly impacted the real estate market in regions like Schärding, where prospective buyers are prioritizing properties connected to robust fiber optic infrastructure.
The demand for fiber optic connections reflects broader shifts in user behavior, with data consumption soaring in both fixed and mobile networks. Understanding the implications of these trends is essential for both service providers and consumers, as the landscape of connectivity evolves rapidly. With A1 Telekom Austria maintaining a strong market position, the competition among smaller providers like Energie AG and Kabelplus highlights the dynamic nature of the telecommunications industry in Austria.
As consumer needs continue to evolve, it’s likely that we will see ongoing changes in the infrastructure and offerings of telecommunications services to meet the demands of a modern and digitally connected lifestyle.
