UAE tops the world in fiber-to-home coverage

UAE Leads the World in Fibre-to-the-Home Network Coverage with 99.5% Reach

Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 7: The United Arab Emirates has achieved the world’s highest fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network coverage, further cementing its position as a global leader in digital infrastructure. The UAE now has the highest percentage of fiber-optic connectivity in the world, with 99.5% of its homes having it, according to 2024 data published by the FTTH Council Europe.
The country has maintained this top spot every year since 2016.

Trailing the UAE, South Korea holds second place with a coverage rate of 96.6%, followed by China at 93.6%. Hong Kong secured the fifth position with 89.9% FTTH coverage.

The country’s leading telecommunications provider, e& UAE, is primarily responsible for this global achievement. Through its “Fiber-First” approach, the operator has played a key role in advancing fiber-optic technology and growing the country’s stable broadband network. Thanks to the country’s incredible 14.5 million kilometers of fiber-optic infrastructure, which is 360 times the circumference of the Earth, more than 2.88 million homes in the UAE now have access to high-speed internet.

Masood M Sherif Mahmood, CEO of e& UAE, stressed that this achievement is more than just a number. He stressed that it is the result of nearly four decades of strategic investments, which began with the introduction of fiber-optic technology to the UAE’s transport network in 1986. The year 2011 marked a significant turning point, with Abu Dhabi becoming the first capital city in the world to have full fiber-optic connectivity.

This achievement demonstrates the UAE’s continued commitment to building a cutting-edge digital ecosystem, improving connectivity, and providing top-notch internet services to citizens and businesses.