Editing Telecommunications in Austria

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{{Update|date=January 2024}}

'''Telecommunications in Austria''' encompass highly developed and efficient internet and telephone networks, complemented by a number of radio and television broadcast stations.

In the 2022 [[Digital Economy and Society Index]] (DESI) report, Austria ranks 10th among 27 European Union (EU) countries. It places 11th in Human Capital, with 63% of individuals possessing at least basic digital skills, surpassing the EU average of 54%. In terms of Connectivity, Austria shows noteworthy advancement with 77% [[5G]] coverage, though it faces challenges in fixed network capacity. The Integration of Digital Technology in businesses is notable, with 64% of [[Small and medium-sized enterprises|Small and Medium-sized Enterprises]] (SMEs) reaching a basic level of digital intensity, above the EU's 55%. Digital Public Services are also well-adopted, with 79% of internet users engaging in [[e-government]] services, exceeding the EU average of 65%.<ref name=":0" />

==Infrastructure==

The telephone system is highly developed and efficient. [[Fibre-optic]] coverage is extensive, although it remains very expensive. A full range of telephone and Internet services are available via the network.<ref name=WFB-Austria-2013>[https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/austria/ "Austria Communications"], ''World Factbook'', U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 30 October 2013.</ref>

Austria has 15 [[satellite earth station]]s, two [[Intelsat]] (one Atlantic Ocean and one Indian Ocean) and one [[Eutelsat]].  Additionally, there are around 600 [[very-small-aperture terminal]]s (VSATs) (2007).<ref name=WFB-Austria-2013/>

==Internet==

=== User statistics ===
* 37 [[Internet service provider]]s (ISPs), most of them organised in the local ISP association Internet Service Providers Austria, ISPA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ispa.at/startseite/|title=österreichischer Verband: ISPA- ISPA|website=www.ispa.at}}</ref>
* 6.7 million Internet users, 50th in the world; 81% of the population, 29th in the world (2012).<ref name="ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet">[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
* 2,074,252 fixed broadband subscriptions, 41st in the world; 25.2% of the population, 33rd in the world (2012).<ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref> 	
* 4,564,834 mobile subscriptions, 40th in the world; 55.5% of the population, 23rd in the world (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* 3.5 million Internet hosts, 30th in the world (2012).<ref name="WFB-Austria-2013" />
* 300,000 [[Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line]]s (ADSL).

The [[country code]] for Austria is "AT", the [[country code top level domain]] (ccTLD) is "[[.at]]".<ref name="WFB-Austria-2013" />

=== Fixed broadband ===
Austria's fixed [[broadband]] connectivity demonstrates both advancement and areas needing enhancement, according to the DESI 2022 report. The country achieves a fixed broadband take-up rate of 78% among households, aligning with the EU average. However, Austria falls short in adopting high-speed broadband (at least 100 Mbps), with an 18% take-up rate, significantly lower than the EU average of 41%. Coverage of Very High Capacity Networks (VHCN) and [[Fibre to the premises|Fibre to the Premises]] (FTTP) in Austria, at 45% and 27% respectively, also trails behind the EU averages of 70% and 50%.<ref name=":0" />

=== Mobile broadband ===
The country has demonstrated substantial advancements in [[mobile broadband]] connectivity, achieving a 91% take-up rate among individuals, which exceeds the EU average of 87%. Notably, the country has made progress in 5G deployment, providing coverage to 77% of populated areas, surpassing the EU average by 11 percentage points and aligning with its objective of achieving nationwide 5G coverage by 2025. Additionally, Austria has allocated 66% of the total harmonized 5G spectrum as of 2022, surpassing the EU average of 56%.<ref name=":0" />

=== Digital public services ===
In the DESI 2022 report, Austria ranked 12th among EU countries in terms of digital public services, aligning closely with EU averages in the provision of digital public services for citizens and businesses, with take-up rates of 76 out of 100 and 81 out of 100, respectively. The country exhibited strong engagement in e-government services, with a usage rate of 79% among its internet users, surpassing the EU average of 65%. Additionally, Austria demonstrated proficiency in providing pre-filled forms and open data, scoring 71 out of 100 and 92%, respectively. These scores exceed the EU averages of 64 out of 100 for pre-filled forms and 81% for open data.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2022 Sweden |url=https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/redirection/document/88713 |website=European Commission}}</ref>

Under the 'Digital Action Plan Austria', the country has implemented strategic initiatives to improve digital interactions between the government and citizens. One such initiative is the 'Business Service Portal', developed to simplify public service procedures, which has been recently updated to enhance user experience and integrate [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] for improved service delivery. The rollout of 'ID Austria' represents an important step towards establishing a unified electronic identification system, aimed at succeeding the 'Mobile Phone Signature' system and ensuring compatibility with the EU-wide [[EIDAS|e-IDAS]] regulation for cross-border authentication. Projects like the 'Digital Office App' and the ELGA electronic health record system are part of efforts to make digital public services more accessible in Austria.<ref name=":0" />

===Internet censorship and surveillance===
In August 2014, [[IFPI Austria]] has requested Internet blocking for several file sharing web sites such as [[The Pirate Bay]] and [[isoHunt]], starting the latest August 14, 2014 (postponed from August 1, 2014). This procedure has been heavily criticized in the media, as there is no formal procedure for unblocking such IPs ever again, and no formal review process that incorrect blocks cannot be obtained. Users sharing an IP may be blocked as a side effect, too.

{{As of|May 2016}}, Austrian ISPs are now once again free to unblock all previously blocked sites after the government appealed a new law for file sharing similar to the one in [[Switzerland]]. Although the IFPI is still trying to challenge this ruling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://torrentfreak.com/pirate-bay-blockade-lifted-by-austrian-court-160623/|title=Pirate Bay Blockade Lifted By Austrian Court - TorrentFreak|date=2016-06-23|work=TorrentFreak|access-date=2017-08-07|language=en-US}}</ref>

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or credible reports that the government monitors [[e-mail]] or [[Internet chat]] rooms without appropriate legal authority. Individuals and groups engage in the peaceful expression of views via the Internet, including by e-mail. Authorities work to restrict access to Web sites containing information that violates the law, such as [[neo-Nazi]] and [[child pornography]] sites. Authorities restrict access to banned Web sites by trying to shut such sites and forbidding the country's Internet service providers to carry them.<ref name="CRHRP-Austria-2012">[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204260 "Austria"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.</ref>

The Austrian constitution provides for freedom of speech and press, and the government generally respects these rights in practice. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combine to ensure freedom of speech and the press. The independent media are active and express a wide variety of views with few restrictions. Individuals generally criticize the government publicly or privately without reprisal. The law prohibits arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, and the government generally respects these prohibitions in practice.<ref name="CRHRP-Austria-2012" />

The law prohibits [[hate speech|incitement, insult, or contempt against a group because of its members’ race, nationality, or ethnicity]] if the statement violates human dignity and the government strictly enforces these laws. The law prohibits [[Holocaust denial|public denial, belittlement, approval, or justification of the Nazi genocide or other Nazi crimes against humanity]] in a print publication, a broadcast, or other media and the government strictly enforces these laws. Strict [[libel]] and [[slander]] laws discourage reporting of governmental abuse. For example, many observers believed that the ability and willingness of the police to sue for libel or slander discourages individuals from reporting abuse by police.<ref name="CRHRP-Austria-2012" />

On 31 July 2012, a 26-year-old man received an 18-month sentence, of which 12 months were to be served, for posting that his favorite book was [[Hitler]]’s ''[[Mein Kampf]]'' and linking to Nazi material on his Facebook page.<ref name="CRHRP-Austria-2012" />

In February 2007 Austrian authorities were able to uncover a "[[child pornography|child-pornography ring]]" involving seventy-seven countries, based on a report by a man working for a [[Vienna|Vienna-based]] Internet file-hosting service.<ref>[https://opennet.net/studies/europe2007 "Internet Filtering in Europe 2006-2007"], OpenNet Initiative. Retrieved 30 October 2013.</ref>

As of March 2022 the websites of [[RT (TV network)|RT]] have been blocked by the major Internet service providers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.puls24.at/news/digital/oesterreich-wer-blockiert-den-rt-internetauftritt/260905 | title=Österreich: Wer blockiert den RT-Internetauftritt? }}</ref>

In August 2022, ISPs were ordered to block further domains, as well as individual IP addresses belonging to CDN providers. The latter rendered a large number of websites to become unavailable.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/pirate-sites-ban-in-austria-took-down-cloudflare-cdns-by-mistake/ | title=Pirate sites ban in Austria took down Cloudflare CDNS by mistake }}</ref>

==Telephones==

* International calling code: 43<ref name="WFB-Austria-2013" />

===Fixed line phones===
* 3.4 million fixed line phones, 47th in the world (2011).<ref name="WFB-Austria-2013" />

The majority of fixed lines are [[Analog transmission|analogue]], with [[Integrated Services Digital Network]] (ISDN) lines for the remainder.

Fixed-line subscribership has been in decline since the mid-1990s and was eclipsed by mobile-cellular in the late 1990s.<ref name="WFB-Austria-2013" />

===Mobile phones===
* 7.6 million mobile phone lines in use, 60th in the world (2011).<ref name="WFB-Austria-2013" />

The Austrian mobile phone market is highly competitive, with some of the lowest rates in Europe.<ref>[https://www.budde.com.au/Research/Austria-Mobile-Market-Insights-Statistics-and-Forecasts.html "Austria - Mobile Market Insights, Statistics and Forecasts"], BuddeComm, Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd. Retrieved 30 October 2013.</ref> Due to the geographical structures of Austria (mountains, flat lands, lakes) many providers use it as a "testing range" for new services. [[Mobile number portability]] was introduced in 2008, allowing users to retain their mobile phone numbers when switching between network operators. The original area codes allocated to each operator can no longer be used to determine the network with which a subscriber is registered.

;First generation networks
D-Netz by [[Telekom Austria]]. This network was switched off at the end of the 1990s.
;Second generation networks
There are three nationwide [[GSM]] networks which also support additional brands and [[mobile virtual network operator]]s (MVNOs).
* [[mobilkom Austria|A1]]: originally Mobilkom. It now runs a mixed GSM-900, GSM-1800 and [[UMTS]] network. Also provides service for MVNO's bob, B-free (owned by A1), Red Bull Mobile and Yess! 
* [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]]: originally max mobil. It now runs a mixed GSM-900, GSM-1800 and UMTS network. Also marketed as telering as a separate brand.
* [[Orange Austria|Orange]]: originally One (until September 2008). A mixed GSM-1800 and UMTS network. Since end 2011 owned by Drei/Hutchinson Whampoa.

;Third generation networks
Drei: Owned by [[Hutchinson Whampoa]], a [[Hong Kong]] based company that runs its own UMTS network.

==Radio and television==
{{Main |Radio in Austria |Television in Austria}}

* There are 2 [[AM radio|AM]], 160 [[FM broadcasting|FM]] and 1 [[shortwave]] radio broadcast stations, with several hundred FM repeaters.  
* There were 6.08 million radios in Austria in 1997.  
* There are 45 broadcast television stations, with in excess of 1000 repeaters.  
* There were 4.25 million televisions in the country in 1997.

The largest broadcasting corporations are:
* [[Österreichischer Rundfunk]] (ORF), Austria's public broadcaster, was the main broadcast source until commercial radio and TV service was introduced in the 1990s.<ref name=WFB-Austria-2013/>  
* [[ATV (Austria)|ATV]], privately held
* [[Puls 4]], privately held
* [[Servus TV]], privately held

==See also==
* [[Alpes Adria Internet Exchange]] (AAIX), a non-profit exchange located in [[Klagenfurt]], [[Austria]].
* [[Area codes in Austria]]
* [[Freinberg Transmitter]]
* [[List of radio stations in Austria and Liechtenstein]]
* [[Telephone numbers in Austria]]

==References==
*{{CIA World Factbook}}
*{{US DOS}}
{{Reflist |32em}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120322182521/http://www.aaix.at/ Alpes Adria Internet Exchange website]
*[https://www.kernelhost.com/professional-dedicated-server-mieten Professional Dedicated Server Mieten]
{{Austria topics}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Internet in Europe}}
{{Internet censorship by country}}

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[[Category:Telecommunications in Austria| ]]
[[Category:Internet in Austria]]