Internet usage in Albania reached a historic milestone in 2024, with total data traffic from both fixed and mobile networks hitting approximately 2 billion gigabytes (GB), according to the Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP).
.jpg "Internet Traffic in Albania Hits Record High of 2 Billion GB in 2024")
AKEP data reveals a significant surge in internet consumption across both fixed and mobile networks, underlining the growing digital demands of Albanian users.
Massive Growth in Fixed Network Usage
The lion’s share of this growth came from fixed broadband networks, which accounted for around 1.78 billion GB of traffic — an increase of 41% compared to 2023. This spike reflects a substantial shift toward higher-capacity, more reliable internet services across homes and businesses.
Mobile networks also experienced an increase, with data traffic rising to 223 million GB, up by 15.4% from the previous year.
Digital Services Drive Internet Demand
AKEP attributes this rising usage to the expanding role of the internet in providing essential services — including financial, informational, social, and healthcare access. The growing demand for fast and high-quality connections is pushing both consumers and providers to upgrade infrastructure and services.
Users Shifting to Higher-Speed Connections
Albania is witnessing a continuous transformation in the structure of fixed internet subscriptions. More users are shifting to broadband connections with download speeds above 30 Mbps. In 2024, 84% of fixed internet subscribers had access to such speeds, compared to 69% in 2023.
Even more notably, 42% of subscribers enjoyed connections faster than 100 Mbps — a dramatic jump from 28% the previous year. This trend is seen as a major step toward meeting national goals outlined in the country’s Digital Broadband Infrastructure Plan, which aims to provide high and ultra-high-speed internet nationwide.
Fiber Optics Powering the Future
The shift toward higher speeds is supported by a transition to fiber-optic technology, now powering 69% of all fixed internet connections in the country. According to AKEP, internet service providers are not only increasing the number of subscribers but also improving the quality and speed of services by investing in modern, high-capacity infrastructure.
As of the first quarter of 2024, the number of fixed internet subscribers reached approximately 681,000, marking a 7.1% increase year-over-year.
Mobile Internet Still Expanding
Meanwhile, the number of mobile internet users rose to approximately 2.1 million, a slight annual increase of 0.4%. On average, Albanians used about 9 GB of mobile data per month, reflecting steady but moderate growth in mobile internet consumption.
5G Rollout Begins
A key development in 2024 was the introduction of 5G services by mobile operators, initially launched in Tirana and select locations across the country. With higher transmission capacities, 5G networks are expected to significantly boost mobile data traffic in the coming years, offering faster speeds and lower latency for users.Conclusion
The continued expansion of internet infrastructure and adoption of faster technologies such as fiber optics and 5G demonstrate Albania's progress toward a more digitally connected society. As demand for online services continues to grow, ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet remains a national priority.