The Faroese people embrace broadband

The Faroes can affirm that the goal in the enterprise policy regarding the penetration of broadband has almost been reached. In one year, broadband subscriptions have doubled, placing the Faroes currently within the top 15 leading OECD countries.

The Faroese people embrace broadband

The Faroes can affirm that the goal in the enterprise policy regarding the penetration of broadband has almost been reached. Competition within the market is the driving force, because now there are both more diversified and cheaper services available. In one year, broadband subscriptions have doubled, placing the Faroes currently within the top 15 leading OECD countries.

Latest figures on broadband
Compared to the total population, 19% of all Faroese people now have a broadband connection to the Internet. Penetration has almost doubled in the last year. The latest figures from the OCED show that Iceland, with a penetration of 26.7%, has the highest broadband penetration per capita in the world. Denmark has 25%. If we compare the broadband penetration in the Faroes today with the OCED data of December 2005, the Faroes would be within the top 15 leading OECD countries.

Access to broadband
The Faroes is also one of the leading OECD countries with regard to access to broadband. The broadband coverage in the Faroes is about 98%. On the other hand, there are proportionally more subscriptions with lower speed in the Faroes than in Denmark. Whilst the number of 1 MB subscriptions is about the same as in the Faroes, the number of broadband subscriptions with 2 MB or more is fairly larger in Denmark than in the Faroes.

About half of the households in the Faroes currently have broadband
In comparing the Faroes with Iceland and Denmark, one must keep in mind that the average household in those countries is comprised of two people, whilst in the Faroes it is three. Therefore, the broadband penetration compared by household is proportionally higher in the Faroes with about half of the households in the Faroes currently having broadband.

The prospects are good
The goal of the Government's enterprise policy to reach an 18% broadband penetration rate by year-end 2006 has been reached. The policy also sets as a goal to make the broadband penetration in the Faroes one of the five best in the OECD before the end of 2008.

Competition is the driving force
The tool for reaching this goal has been to create a good regulatory framework for the telecommunications market. The market is currently also affected by the fact that we have several good companies that offer such services. Competition is the driving force that encourages the companies to continuously offer new services at lower prices.

The Government emphasises that an increased ICT usage plays an important role in the continuous economic bloom and commercial progress in the Faroes.