According to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2015, an annual study carried out at the request of the European Commission, Belgium ranks fifth in the European internet use list. The study compares the 28 EU Member States in five areas: connectivity, human capital, internet use, integration of digital technology and digital public services. The top five is completed by Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Finland.
Belgium is making progress in four of the five areas measured. In terms of connectivity, it is in first place in the whole of Europe. However, with regards to provision of online public services, Belgium is lagging behind. This is principally due to the rapid progress other EU countries are making in this area.
Nearly the whole of Belgium has broadband access and 73% of all internet subscriptions have at least a speed of 30 Mbps. 83% of the population uses the internet regularly and around 42% actively use e-services offered by various public bodies. 80% of life’s most important moments (a birth, moving house, etc.) can be registered online. 65% of Belgian internet users have played online games or have even downloaded visual material, film or music. In terms of
