Broadband and USO Tracker
USO benchmark updated to reflect increases to minimum broadband speeds in Europe
We recently updated the Universal Service Obligation (USO) benchmark within our Broadband and USO Tracker to reflect new and expected future increases in the minimum broadband speeds designated universal service providers (USPs) must deliver. Our benchmark includes 23 countries, of which 19 consider broadband to be a universal service. However, only 14 have actually defined a minimum speed requirement, with some only mandating that consumers have access to an “adequate” broadband service. The minimum speeds that have been imposed currently tend to sit between 10Mbps and 30Mbps, although they range from 5Mbps (Finland) up to 100Mbps (South Korea). Even then, policymakers have not always identified, or they no longer designate, a USP to supply the minimum broadband service, which may be less than the commercial market provides voluntarily.
In Germany, the Federal Council has approved BNetzA’s proposal to increase the broadband speeds required as part of the minimum supply of telecoms services available to all households. Following the regulator’s annual review, the minimum download speed has been increased from 10Mbps to 15Mbps and the minimum upload speed from 1.7Mbps to 5Mbps.
In Spain, the CNMC has announced that it has reappointed Telefónica as the USP for 2025 and 2026. Although the decision does not involve an immediate increase in the minimum broadband speed (currently 10Mbps), the regulator has stated that one is necessary given technological developments and the current needs of end users. The CNMC has urged the Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service (MTDFP) to develop a Royal Decree to update the terms and conditions of the USO, including raising the minimum speed to 30Mbps – and later to 100Mbps.
