The Estonian Digital Agenda 2030 focuses on developing digital public services, cybersecurity and improving connectivity across the country. The Estonian Broadband Plan 2030 describes actions to achieve goals set by the Estonia’s Digital Agenda 2030.
National digital connectivity strategy and policy
Responsible authorities
- The process of digital connectivity deployment is managed by the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs (Justiits- ja Digiministeerium). The Ministry is responsible for digital connectivity strategy and legislation.
- The Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA, Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet) is a governmental organisation operating in the administrative area of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. It oversees and regulates technical standards and collects market data. The aim of the Authority is to help implement the national economic policy through improvement of safety, organising the expedient use of limited resources and increasing the reliability of the products in the field of manufacturing environments, industrial equipment, railway and electronic communication.
- The Estonian Broadband Development Foundation (ELASA, Eesti Lairiba Arenduse Sihtasutuse) is responsible for the EstWin project, installation of fibre-optic cables and construction of connection points.
- The Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL, Eesti Infotehnoloogia ja Telekommunikatsiooni Liit) unites Estonian ICT companies, promotes their cooperation, presents their joint positions regarding digital connectivity network development and acts as a competence centre.
- The Information System Authority (RIA, Riigi Infosüsteemi Amet) is an implementing entity of the structural assistance of the European Union, which administers the European Regional Development Fund support in building the digital connectivity backhaul network.
Main aims for digital connectivity development
Estonia’s Digital Agenda 2030 was adopted on 7 October 2021. The strategy is in line with the Gigabit Society connectivity targets. The overall objective of the strategy is to achieve high-speed, reliable, and affordable electronic communications connections in the country by 2030, irrespective of the location. To implement the vision, three specific goals have been set:
- digital government (i.e. the use of digital solutions in the public sector)
- electronic communication (i.e. connectivity)
- national cyber security
By 2030, ultrafast, reliable and affordable telecommunications connections should be available in Estonia irrespective of the location, making it possible to create and use innovative services. All should have access to connections of at least 100 Mbps which can be increased up to 1 Gbps. The government will support the development of very high capacity access networks in rural areas where telecommunications companies do not invest under the conditions of competition.
The support will also be granted to a) establish core infrastructure in the main transport corridors in Estonia, allowing for uninterrupted 5G coverage, b) secure coverage of selected residential and business areas with 5G and c) necessary preparations for the adoption of 6G when the relevant technology arrives on the market.
The Estonian Broadband Plan 2030 was published in 2023. The plan describes actions necessary to achieve goals set by the Estonia’s Digital Agenda 2030. The plan provides an overview of the network coverage and the plans to support the construction of communication infrastructure in market failure areas in 2022-2030, as well as provision of an uninterrupted 5G connections along the main transport corridors. Public subsidies of EUR 89 million are planned. In addition, achieving goals set by the Gigabit society will require further investments by the state of approximately EUR 200 million.
With its 5G roadmap, Estonia would like to achieve 5G connectivity in major cities by 2023 and along transport corridors by 2025. A dedicated working group on 5G has been set up at ministry level. Work is ongoing to assess business use and find the financing model for the 5G deployment. The authorities are also committed to cooperating on 5G corridors with Latvia and Lithuania in the framework of the Via Baltica project. The Baltic States would like to map the electronic communications infrastructure alongside the corridor and to identify infrastructure gaps.
Main measures and financial instruments for digital connectivity development
A central mapping tool (Communications Coverage Application) on availability of digital connectivity services has been developed by the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA). It is an interactive portal, where the users can get information about the availability of digital connectivity services in Estonia.
Estonia’s recovery and resilience plan supports the digital transition with investments and reforms in increasing connectivity (EUR 24 million), with focus on the deployment of very-high capacity networks in rural areas, which should contribute to the reduction of the digital divide.
Data on digital connectivity development and technologies in Estonia
For the latest data on digital connectivity coverage, subscriptions and penetrations, coverage of different digital connectivity technologies check the Digital Decade country reports.
National and EU publications and press documents
English
- Estonian Digital Agenda 2030
- Broadband Investment Handbook
- Mobile and Fixed Broadband Prices in Europe 2023
- Study on National Broadband Plans in the EU27
Estonian
Contact information
BCO Estonia (national Broadband Competence Office): Estonian Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs (Justiits- ja Digiministeerium)
Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (Tarbijakaitse ja Tehnilise Järelevalve Amet)
Estonian Broadband Development Foundation (Eesti Lairiba Arenduse Sihtasutuse)
Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (Eesti Infotehnoloogia ja Telekommunikatsiooni Liit)
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