Fiber networks now pass 295 million homes across Europe

17 Mar 2026

FTTH Council Europe releases report on continental progress ahead of London conference in April.

The Fiber To The Home Council Europe (FTTH) has published the latest edition of the European FTTH/B Market Panorama, produced by market analyst firm iDate. The report provides a comprehensive update on FTTH deployment and adoption across Europe. Based on data collected up to September 2025, it highlights continued growth in fiber rollout and adoption across the continent while signaling a gradual transition toward “a more mature phase of market development”.

FTTH/B networks now pass approximately 295 million homes across the EU39, representing around 79% household coverage. This marks an increase of roughly 23 million additional premises passed in the past year, reflecting that fiber deployment continues to expand across Europe – although the pace of rollout is gradually moderating as several markets approach advanced stages of coverage, the report states.

At the same time, fiber adoption continues to accelerate. The number of FTTH/B subscribers across the EU39 reached around 160 million, reflecting more than 13% year-on-year growth. The average take-up rate also increased, reaching approximately 54%, an improvement of slightly more than two percentage points compared to the previous year. This indicates steady progress in converting network availability into active connections, although a significant activation gap remains between infrastructure deployment and subscriber uptake.

Connecting complex and underserved areas

Progress is also visible in rural connectivity. Across the EU27 and the UK, around 65% of rural households are now passed by FTTH/B networks, an increase of about two percentage points year on year. This reflects the impact of public funding programmes and targeted deployment initiatives aimed at connecting the most complex and underserved areas.

Looking ahead, the long-term outlook for fiber in Europe remains strong. According to the 2025-2031 market forecasts, FTTH/B networks could reach around 353 million premises across the EU39 by 2031, with more than 251 million active fiber subscribers expected by that time. These trends confirm the central role fiber will play as the foundation of Europe’s future digital infrastructure. Completing the set of annual reports presented every year by the FTTH Council Europe, the FTTH/B Global Ranking 2026 provides a comprehensive analysis of where European markets stand in comparison to other regions.

Francesco Nonno, President of the FTTH Council Europe, commented, “Europe has achieved remarkable progress in fiber deployment, but sustaining investment at this scale requires a stable and forward‑looking policy environment. As policymakers shape the next phase of Europe’s digital framework, initiatives such as the Digital Networks Act and the future Cybersecurity Act will be instrumental in ensuring the financial stability and regulatory certainty needed to support long-term infrastructure investment.”

Vincent Garnier, Director General of the Council, added, “As Europe approaches high levels of fiber coverage, the focus of the industry is naturally shifting. The next chapter is about ensuring that fiber networks deliver their full economic and societal potential - accelerating adoption, supporting the switch-off of legacy copper networks, and enabling the digital ecosystems built on top of fiber, from cloud and data centre interconnection to emerging technologies such as AI, immersive media and advanced industrial automation.”

The full findings of the European FTTH/B Market Panorama 2026 will be discussed during the FTTH Conference 2026, taking place 14–16 April 2026 at ExCeL, London, UK. The event is expected to attract more than 3,500 professionals from across the fiber sector, including telecom operators, technology providers, policymakers, investors, and infrastructure leaders.