The proportion of European Union households with a broadband Internet connection has risen to 56 percent, the EU’s statistical body, Eurostat, said December 8.

The proportion of European Union households with a broadband Internet connection has risen to 56 percent, the EU’s statistical body, Eurostat, said December 8.

This marks a significant rise from 42 percent in 2007, with big increases seen in a number of countries, such as Greece (from 7 percent to 33 percent), the Czech Republic (from 28 to 49 percent), and Latvia (from 32 to 50 percent). The countries generally regarded as Internet leaders have seen slower rates of growth, such as in the Netherlands (from 74 to 77 percent), and Denmark (from 70 to 76 percent).

Overall, in 2009, the proportion of households with either broadband or dial-up Internet access was highest the Netherlands (90 percent), Luxembourg (87 percent), Sweden (86 percent), Denmark (83 percent), Germany (79 percent), Finland (78 percent) and the United Kingdom (77 percent). The lowest shares were recorded in Bulgaria (30 percent), Greece and Romania (both 38 percent).

The proportion of households with a broadband connection in 2009 was highest in Sweden (80 percent), the Netherlands (77 percent) and Denmark (76 percent).

Source: eu-forum.org