Romania's Digital Gap: Strong Internet Infrastructure Meets Limited Company Adoption

The European Union has set ambitious goals for digitalization to drive competitiveness by 2030. However, new data from the EU Council highlights a considerable digital divide that Romania must still overcome. Despite possessing a robust fixed internet infrastructure, Romanian companies are utilizing digital technologies at a much lower rate.

Furthermore, a significant challenge remains in ensuring widespread access, with 1,592 localities still lacking a functional fixed internet service of at least 100 Mbps. This disparity means that while the infrastructure may exist in some areas, its effective use and reach are limited, impacting businesses' ability to translate connectivity into productivity.

The economic consequences of inadequate or unstable internet are substantial. Businesses can lose valuable time and money due to disruptions in document transmission, accessing online applications, utilizing cloud services, processing orders, or communicating with clients and suppliers. While the problem is recognized, there is a lack of official statistics quantifying these financial losses for Romanian companies.

Romania's fixed internet infrastructure is generally strong, with over 7 million connections by the end of 2025, showing a 3% increase from the previous year. Gigabit connections saw a 14% rise, and fiber-optic connections to homes and offices reached 5.7 million, a 7% increase. Rural areas experienced a 6% growth in connections, outpacing urban areas' 1% growth. However, this progress is unevenly distributed, leaving numerous communities without the desired minimum speed.