On the occasion of the FTTH Conference 2024, the Market Intelligence Committee of the FTTH Council Europe launched the FTTH/B Market Forecasts 2023-2029, showcasing the evolution of FTTH/B coverage and adoption in the EU27+UK and EU39 areas for the next five years.
The market forecasts are consistent with the previous estimates and in line with the conclusions of the FTTH/B Market Panorama. The data foresees around 215 M homes passed for FTTH/B in 2029 in EU27+UK and 312 M homes passed in the EU39 region. It is expected that the top 3 countries in terms of homes passed will be Germany (38,6 M), France (33,3 M), and United Kingdom (29,6 M).
According to the forecasts, the number of subscribers is expected to reach 144 M in EU27+UK and 201 M in EU39 region, with take-up rates experiencing steady growth in both regions.
The bandwidth limitations of current cable and copper networks are driving telecom players to deploy fullfiber solutions. Additionally, growing traffic demands are prompting operators to upgrade to full fiber to accommodate new peaks. Thanks to recently initiated national programs and Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) targets for 2025 & 2030, full-fiber connectivity in European countries will reach new heights.
In historically copper- and cable-based countries, the fixed broadband market is undergoing significant evolution. Alternative ISPs are actively engaging in FTTH deployments in regions not served by major national players. Recent efforts by incumbents to transition their core architecture to FTTH indicate forthcoming full-fiber rollouts. Notable examples include the UK, Germany, and Italy.