Broadband in rural areas Providing cities with fast internet pays off for telecommunications providers. However, a good communications infrastructure is essential in rural areas as well. Therefore, the Federal Government supports broadband rollout in rural areas.

In urban areas, the expansion of fast internet is rapidly progressing, both for the fixed network and for mobile communications. As many people live there in a relatively small area, demand is high and broadband rollout is profitable for telecommunications companies. Rural areas have a lower population density, which makes the rollout less profitable.

Why broadband is important in rural areas

Nevertheless it is very important that fast internet is available also outside conurbations. This equality of opportunities between cities and rural areas helps maintain vivid rural areas because only if people and companies have access to an efficient communications infrastructure also in rural areas, companies and private individuals can be prevented from moving to the cities and rural areas from declining. Broadband rollout in rural areas is therefore an issue of the future for Austria and ensures jobs, prosperity and quality of life.

Promotion of broadband in rural areas

For this reason the Federal Government promotes the broadband rollout in rural areas. As early as in 2015 the Austria-wide “broadband billion” was provided in the framework of the Broadband Austria 2020 initiative. The broadband billion can be used for the expansion of the communication infrastructure, especially in rural areas. The financial support enables telecommunications companies to provide also rural areas with fast internet profitably. In this way the rollout is improved both in the mobile and in the fixed-line network. This is to make Austria one of the leading digital nations of the European Union and should strengthen its trailblazing position in broadband coverage. By 2030 fixed-net and mobile gigabit connections are to be available throughout Austria.

Check your broadband supply

By means of the Broadband Atlas (“Breitbandatlas”) citizens can inform themselves about the current state of broadband access of 200 telecommunications companies all over Austria. A distinction is made between fixed network and mobile network. The Broadband Map also shows which areas benefit of the broadband billion and where the rollout is subsidised.