Summary of broadband development in Luxembourg
Broadband coverage already reaches almost 100% and Luxembourg is among the European leaders in terms of broadband coverage and penetration. Luxembourg’s ultra-high-speed broadband strategy 2021-2025 aims at high performance connectivity for all. A 5G taskforce and strategy was established to keep Luxembourg at the forefront of 5G connectivity.
National broadband strategy and policy
Responsible authorities
- The Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy (Service des Médias, de la Connectivité et de la politique Numérique) of the Ministry of State (Ministère d'Etat) is in charge of broadband strategy, its coordination as well as implementation in Luxembourg.
- Digital Luxembourg, an initiative of the Ministry of State strengthens and guides digital developments in Luxembourg.
- The Luxembourg Regulation Institute (Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation) acts as the national regulatory authority with a mission to safeguard market competition.
Main aims for broadband development
Luxembourg’s ultra-high-speed broadband strategy 2021-2025 aims to achieve high performance connectivity for all. Objective 3 of the strategy is to accelerate the deployment of future-proof infrastructure, while respecting technological neutrality, to meet the current and future needs of all households, regardless of their geographical location. Eventually, the migration of all households to scalable futureproof technologies will optimise the energy efficiency of networks by progressively disconnecting the old fixed network.
To prevent the digital divide, the strategy highlights the importance of an affordable basic high-speed internet connection for everyone, defined as a minimum 100 Mbps download internet connection and 20 Mbps upload service. In order to provide this service to the most disadvantaged households, targeted measures will be assessed and implemented.
The ambition of the strategy is to ensure that every housing unit has access to at least one VHCN (Very High Capacity Network) network, defined as 1 Gbps download and 200 Mbps upload in a fixed network. The strategy prioritises households in remote areas that are not connected by a VHCN network. Connecting remote & rural homes is costly and public support may be considered for cases where private operators have no plans to expand networks.
A 5G taskforce was established to keep Luxembourg at the forefront of connectivity. 5G was launched by Post Luxembourg, Orange and Proximus in 2020. Luxembourg has drafted a 5G Strategy.
Main measures for broadband development
- Luxembourg’s Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) does not include any investment in connectivity, as the policy focus is on ensuring that private investment is sufficient to fulfil the objectives for 2025.
- The Checkmynet.lu tool measures the performance and quality of internet access services for end users and is free-of-charge. If a consumer finds the measured bandwidth to be lower than the one contracted, they can contact their provider; if they do not receive a reply or the reply is unsatisfactory, the consumer can use ILR’s mediation service free-of-charge.
- Broadband mapping: the government has developed a Broadband service mapping tool that shows the level of broadband coverage for each municipality in Luxembourg. The map is based on fixed network operators’ data (Docsis, VDSL and Fibre).
- Another important tool developed by the government is the National Road Works Register. This register contains all the applications for road and roadside permits, which have been submitted by businesses. It also contains information concerning public infrastructure works planned by communes and public administrators on telecommunications, gas, electricity and water networks, etc.
- Other measures:
- Introduction of an obligation to provide reception infrastructure for fibre optic (municipalities have been asked to make reception infrastructure compulsory),
- Introduction of an obligation to provide high speed broadband-ready in-house cabling in new dwellings (appropriate in-house cabling is compulsory for all newly constructed buildings, and already existing multi-dwelling buildings in the event of major renovation works, for which applications for building permits have been submitted after 31 December 2016),
- Access of alternative operators to the network of the incumbent.
Data on broadband development and technologies in Luxembourg
For the latest data on broadband coverage, subscriptions and penetrations, coverage of different broadband technologies and costs check the scoreboard reports and the country reports of the Digital Economy & Society Index (DESI).
Spectrum assignments for wireless broadband
For details on harmonised spectrum assignments consult the European 5G Observatory.
National publications and press documents
- Ultra-high-speed broadband strategy 2021-2025
- Luxembourg's 5G Strategy
- Broadband service mapping system (GEOPORTAIL.LU)
- Carte de la couverture Internet ultra-haut débit
- National Road Works Register
- Study on National Broadband Plans
- Guide to High-Speed Broadband Investment
- Broadband Connectivity Reports and Analyses
- Mobile and fixed broadband prices in Europe
- Study on broadband coverage in Europe
Contact information
BCO Luxembourg (national Broadband Competence Office): Ministry of State, Department of Media, Connectivity and Digital Policy
Address: 5, Rue Plaetis, L-2338, Luxembourg
Contact via email
Phone: +352 247 86717
Website
Ministry of the Economy (Ministère de l'Économie)
Address: 19-21, boulevard Royal, L-2449 Luxembourg
Contact via email
Phone: +352 2478 4137
Website
Luxembourg Regulation Institute (Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation)
Address: 17, rue du Fossé, L-1536 Luxembourg
Contact via email
Phone: +352 28228 228
Website
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Big Picture
Find current information on broadband development in each country, as well as national strategies and policies for developing broadband.
See Also
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Digital connectivity and 5G rollout are among the ten strategic priorities of the Spain Digital 2025 Agenda.
Slovenia opts for technological neutrality and market dynamics in developing broadband networks, in particular infrastructure- and service-based competition.
Slovakia has set the long-term objective of providing all households with access to ultra-fast internet by 2030.
Romania focuses on building up a national broadband network as a step towards achieving the EU connectivity targets.
The Agenda Portugal Digital and the National Strategy for Connectivity in Very High Capacity Electronic Communication Networks for 2023-2030 shape development of a digital infrastructure in Portugal.
Poland’s national broadband plan 2025 is in line with the EU’s Gigabit Society targets.
All households in the Netherlands should have the opportunity to access broadband networks of at least 100 Mbps and a vast majority should be taking advantage of 1 Gbps by 2023.
Malta’s broadband policy is technology-neutral and favours a competitive market environment.
Lithuania aims to provide 100 Mbps by 2027 to rural areas as well supporting the Gigabit society targets 2025.
Latvia supports the Gigabit society targets and aims at 100 Mbps, upgradable to gigabit, for urban and rural areas as well as 5G coverage for all large urban areas.
The Italian Strategy for Ultra Broadband Towards the Gigabit Society aims to provide gigabit connectivity to all by 2026.
The national broadband plan for Ireland foresees that by 2026 all premises in Ireland will have access to high-speed broadband.
Hungary’s National Digitalisation Strategy 2021-2030 aims to achieve a target of 95% of households covered by gigabit networks by 2030.
The National Broadband Plan 2021-2027 promotes the use of fixed very high capacity and 5G networks. The Greek Digital Transformation Bible 2020-2025 highlights connectivity as one of the five strategic axes and acknowledges the Gigabit Society 2025 targets.
The 2021 coalition agreement, the Digital Strategy and the Gigabit Strategy 2022 of the German Federal Government prioritise the nationwide supply of FTTH and 5G networks.
The national broadband programme France Très Haut Débit sets a target of fast broadband access for all households by 2022 and fibre for all by 2025.
The Finnish authorities favour a competition-driven, fibre-based network roll-out assisted by public funds for underserved areas and advice for local municipalities on how to deploy broadband networks.
Estonia has established basic broadband coverage throughout the country. The Estonian Digital Agenda sets ambitious targets for 2030.
A number of political initiatives aiming at nation-wide fixed and mobile broadband coverage support Danish broadband goals. The Government works towards making Denmark a digital frontrunner by creating a foundation for Danish businesses to exploit digital technologies.
The National Plan for the Development of Very High Capacity Networks, approved in March 2021, defines the strategic approach of the Czech Republic to the construction of VHCN.
Cyprus’ broadband plan sets strategic objectives for 2021-2025 and includes legislative and regulatory interventions as well as practical support for the development of broadband infrastructure.
Croatian National Plan for Broadband Development 2021–2027 responds to the European Gigabit Society objectives 2025 and partially to the 2030 digital targets.
The National Broadband Infrastructure Plan for Next Generation Access "Connected Bulgaria" and the Policy on electronic communications were updated and adopted in August 2020.
Belgium’s broadband strategy is incorporated into a broader policy strategy Digital Belgium. The aim of the national plan for fixed and mobile broadband is to eliminate the remaining white areas where high speed services are unavailable. By lowering costs and reducing...
Austria’s broadband strategy focuses on the nationwide supply of Gigabit connections (fixed and mobile) by 2030.