Greece’s national broadband plan 2021–2027

The National Broadband Plan 2021–2027 is a comprehensive strategic framework developed by the Hellenic Ministry of Digital Governance to drive Greece’s transition into the Gigabit era. It aims to bridge the gap between current connectivity levels and the needs of a digital society by fostering high-capacity broadband infrastructure, enabling inclusive access to very high-speed networks across the country, and enhancing the digital resilience of its economy and society.

This plan serves as a central pillar of Greece’s broader digital transformation strategy and aligns closely with the European Union’s objectives for a Gigabit Society and the Digital Compass 2030. The pandemic experience intensified the urgency of building robust digital infrastructure, revealing the country’s vulnerabilities and the central role of connectivity in work, education, health, commerce, and civic engagement.

Although Greece has made notable progress in broadband availability, both fixed and mobile, it continues to lag behind the European average in coverage and uptake of very high capacity networks. This plan acknowledges the structural weaknesses and sets forth a national roadmap to overcome them through targeted interventions, regulatory reforms, and strategic public investments.

By mobilising both public and private resources and fostering strong cooperation between all levels of government and industry stakeholders, the plan aims to establish a future-proof connectivity landscape. Public funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, along with national and EU programs, is allocated to complement private investments, especially in areas where market failure persists or where returns on investment are limited.

The strategy was developed with contributions from key stakeholders and coordinated by the General Secretariat for Telecommunications and Post of the Ministry of Digital Governance. It is designed as a participatory framework that promotes public-private collaboration and ensures inclusive and sustainable digital development across the entire territory of Greece.

Vision and strategic objectives

The long-term vision of the National Broadband Plan is to transform Greece into a digitally empowered nation where both fixed very high-capacity networks and 5G act as accelerators of innovation, competitiveness, and social progress. The plan seeks to ensure that digital infrastructure becomes a lever for inclusive growth, enabling citizens and businesses to fully benefit from the ongoing digital transformation.

This vision requires strategic focus, coordinated action, and effective governance to ensure that the necessary connectivity foundations are in place for the digital economy and society to thrive. The implementation of the plan is structured around two overarching objectives.

Goals:

• To accelerate private investment by removing administrative barriers and establishing an investment-friendly environment
• To ensure wide availability and adoption of very high-speed broadband services across the national territory

These goals are supported by a well-defined set of intervention areas where public action is required to stimulate investment, improve coordination, and extend network coverage, particularly in underserved or remote areas.

Focus areas:

• providing guidance and training to local authorities and relevant public bodies to facilitate broadband deployment
• streamlining permit processes and promoting the use of digital tools for approval requests
• improving coordination through a central digital information portal and single information point (SIP)
• enhancing transparency by offering access to data on planned technical projects and existing infrastructure
• using geographic information systems (GIS) and digital models to support infrastructure planning
• deploying 5G networks along national highways and critical corridors
• expanding connectivity to islands through the construction of new submarine cable systems
• installing fiber-optic infrastructure in buildings to support gigabit access
• offering voucher schemes to stimulate demand for superfast and ultrafast broadband services
• establishing free public wireless internet access in strategic public spaces under the WiFi4GR initiative

The total estimated public investment under this plan is €1.139 billion, contributing to an overall investment of approximately €2.5 billion during the 2021–2027 period. Its success relies on active participation from ministries, regional and local governments, private investors, and civil society. Through coordinated governance and a shared digital vision, the plan is positioned to significantly advance Greece’s digital infrastructure and readiness for the future.