1 Introduction
Point Topic tracks changes in the 4G LTE / LTE Advanced and 5G tariffs provided by mobile operators across Europe. This report presents the latest tariff benchmarks as of the end of December 2024. The data is collated within Point Topic’s Mobile Broadband Tariffs dataset.
In addition to this report, we also provide access to the complete tariff dataset which our customers can use to perform their own analysis.
2 What we measure
This analysis is based on more than 1,000 tariffs from all major mobile broadband providers from the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland. In total, we provide data on 88 operators from 30 countries. We track a representative sample of tariffs offered by each operator, making sure we include the top end, the entry level and the medium level tariffs, which results in a broad range of prices and data allowances.
We use this data to report on pan-European trends in tariffs and bandwidths offered. The data can be used to track changes in the tariffs offered by individual operators as well.
Technologies
We track mobile broadband tariffs provided over 4G LTE / LTE-Advanced and 5G mobile broadband technologies.
Standalone and bundled
We record 4G and 5G tariffs which are offered as SIM only, some of which come with mobile calls / SMS and a device (a modem, router or equivalent). We do record multi-play service bundles (mobile broadband plus TV, fixed broadband and/or voice) but they are not included in this analysis – they can be found in our mobile broadband tariff dataset. We track contract based monthly tariffs rather than daily, weekly or pay as you go (prepaid), and exclude tariffs offered as part of the smartphone or tablet purchase.
Residential and business
We record both business and residential mobile broadband tariffs.
Currency
To allow for comparison between countries with different living standards, this report refers to the tariffs in $ PPP (purchasing power parity). The data on PPP conversion rates is provided by the World Bank. The tariffs in our database are also available in local currencies, USD, EUR and GBP.
For further details on methodology, see the Appendix.
3 Mobile broadband tariffs and bandwidths in Europe: an overview
We have compared the average monthly subscription charges, data caps and download speeds offered by mobile broadband providers across the EU-28, Norway and Switzerland. All prices are quoted in US dollars at PPP (purchasing power parity) rates to allow for easier comparison.
We are noticing a decreasing number of 4G only tariffs as most operators are approaching high 5G network coverage. In Q4 2024, our dataset included 317 4G only tariffs and 810 5G tariffs (of course, 5G speeds will not be available everywhere even on 5G tariffs).
Note: from Q2 2017 onwards, we only include SIM only tariffs which are sometimes bundled with a router and/or calls/SMS. No tariffs bundled with other devices such as tablets or smartphones are included. We made this decision to make the analysis more comparable with fixed broadband services.
Key points:
On average, 5G tariffs continue to offer better value for money than 4G both in terms of cost per GB of data and cost per Mbps (bandwidth).
In Q4 2024, the average residential 5G tariff in Europe was $50.11 PPP, down from $52.22 PPP recorded in Q3 2024. It varied from $87.89 PPP in Malta to $8.29 PPP in Romania.
The average 5G data cap in Europe was 535GB, down from 550GB in Q3 2024. It varied from 1,000GB / unlimited data in Romania, Finland and Malta to 113GB in Belgium.
The average residential 4G tariff in Europe was $37.87 PPP, up slightly quarter-on-quarter from $£37.74. It varied from $76.37 PPP in Norway to $6.58 PPP in Romania.
The average 4G data cap was 396GB, up from 371GB in Q3 2024. It varied from unlimited data (1,000GB) in Finland, Switzerland, Spain and Greece[1] to 25GB in Estonia.
The average European cost per GB was lower on 5G plans ($0.12 PPP) compared to 4G tariffs ($0.27 PPP) (residential tariffs). This indicator stayed the same on 5G while on 4G it has gone up from $0.20 PPP that we recorded in Q3 2024.
The European average 4G business tariff was $38.58 PPP, having dropped from $40.61 PPP in Q3 2024. For 5G the average business tariff was $54.46 PPP and stayed exactly the same as in the previous quarter.
[1] Note: for comparison purposes we assigned 1,000 GB data cap to ‘unlimited data’ tariffs.
3.1 Residential tariffs
Reflecting the increasing prevalence of 5G networks, our analysis this quarter includes more residential 5G tariffs than those based on the 4G technology – we recorded 451 residential 5G tariffs compared to 175 4G-only tariffs. (In five countries, we did not find any 4G-only tariffs). Having said that, operators advertise tariffs as 5G, even though the 5G connectivity is not universal and users’ devices revert to 4G data in some locations. It would be more accurate to call them ‘5G capable’ tariffs.
In Q4 2024, the average monthly tariff for residential 4G based services varied from $76.37 PPP in Norway (up from $70.29 PPP in Q3 2024) to $6.58 PPP in Romania (unchanged since Q3) (Figure 1). Such high disparity can be partly explained by different data caps and bandwidth in the two markets – in Norway the average data cap was 63GB and the average downstream bandwidth was 292Mbps, while in Romania the average data cap was 27GB, with the average bandwidth at 142Mbps.
In 13 out of 30 countries in our sample, the average 4G tariff was higher than the European average of $37.87 PPP. The average went up slightly quarter-on-quarter – it was $£37.74 in Q3 2024. Norway and Romania remained as the most expensive and the cheapest countries in terms of the average 4G tariffs.
Figure 1. Average residential 4G and 5G tariffs, $PPP
At the end of Q4 2024, the average monthly residential 5G tariff in our sample varied from $87.89 PPP in Malta to $8.29 PPP in Romania. Similarly to 4G rankings, these two countries stayed as the most expensive and the cheapest as in the previous quarter. Although both Romania and Malta offered on average 1,000GB (unlimited) data, in Malta the average 5G speed was 1.5Gbps (we did not find speed data for the Romanian 5G tariffs), and the tariffs included generous EU roaming allowances, which explains the high price. In 13 out of the 30 countries, the average 5G tariff was higher than the European average of $50.11 PPP. This measure went down, however, from $52.22 PPP that we recorded in Q3 2024. In all countries except Norway, Bulgaria and Italy the average 5G tariffs were higher than 4G tariffs, as one would expect given typically higher bandwidth and data caps, and lower latency on 5G networks. (In the above three countries, the difference was marginal).
Across the continent, the average data cap on residential 4G tariffs varied from unlimited data (1,000GB) in Finland, Switzerland, Spain and Greece[1] to 25GB in Estonia (Figure 2). The average 4G data cap in Europe was 396GB, up from 371GB in Q3 2024. In 15 out of the 30 countries in our sample, the average data cap was lower than the European average.
The average data allowance on 5G tariffs varied from 1,000GB / unlimited data in Romania, Finland and Malta to 113GB in Belgium. In all but three countries, the average 5G data caps were higher than those on 4G plans, reflecting the higher prices users were normally charged for the 5G services. Among the three countries, where this was not the case, the contrast was especially high in Greece and Spain. In Greece, the average 4G data allowance was more than three times higher, and in Spain it was more than twice higher than that on 5G tariffs. This was because we only recorded one residential 4G tariff from Greece and one from Spain, and they came with unlimited data, while multiple 5G tariffs in both countries had varied data caps.
In 18 out of the 30 countries, the average 5G data allowance was lower than the European average of 535GB. The average itself dropped from 550GB that we recorded in Q3 2024. This was despite the fact that we found 191 unlimited data residential 5G tariffs this quarter compared to 166 such tariffs in Q3 2024 (given the larger sample size in Q4, unlimited tariffs constituted 43% of all residential 5G tariffs in both quarters).
Figure 2. Average monthly data cap in gigabytes, residential 4G and 5G tariffs
In some countries, high average data allowance came with a relatively low average monthly subscription, or vice versa. This resulted in varying average cost per GB across Europe. In the case of 5G, the average cost per GB varied from $0.01 PPP in Romania to $0.33 PPP in Belgium (Table 1). The differences were more pronounced for 4G tariffs – the average cost per GB on these plans ranged from $0.02 PPP in Spain to $1.50 PPP in Estonia, where the average 4G data cap was only 25GB. The average European cost per GB was lower on 5G plans ($0.12 PPP) compared to 4G tariffs ($0.27 PPP), suggesting that 5G tariffs offered better value for money. The average cost per GB on 5G stayed the same while it has gone up on 4G from $0.20 PPP that we recorded in Q3 2024.
Table 1. Average cost per GB of 4G and 5G data in $PPP, residential tariffs. Source: Point Topic
One of the factors which complicates comparing mobile broadband tariffs between different operators and markets and with fixed broadband plans is the fact that some mobile operators do not report bandwidth on their tariffs. Even when they do, the difference between the theoretical maximum bandwidths and the actual ones tends to be higher for mobile broadband compared to fixed. In addition, mobile broadband speeds can fluctuate significantly from one minute to the next due to various environmental factors.
Where the data is available, the average downstream speed on residential 5G plans ranged from 1,500Mbps in Malta to 61Mbps in the UK. (A note of caution: there are a lot of gaps in the data at the country level, so the averages do not necessarily reflect the complete picture. Out of the 449 residential 5G tariffs there was no data on speeds for 247 of them.)
The average downstream bandwidth on residential 4G tariffs varied between 533Mbps in Sweden and 2Mbps in Switzerland (Figure 3). The average European 5G speed was 428Mbps (down from 458Mbps in Q3 2024), compared to 146Mbps (up from 145Mbps in Q3) on 4G tariffs.
Figure 3. Average theoretical downstream speed on residential 4G and 5G plans
Selected country benchmarks
We looked at selected six mature 4G and 5G markets to compared data caps and costs. In Q4 2024, Switzerland and Spain stood out in terms of the highest average data allowance. Spain also had the lowest average tariff (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Tariff benchmarks for residential 4G services in six major European economies
Mobile operators in Switzerland and Spain offered consumers on average 1,000GB of 4G data a month (unlimited data across the operators). Sweden followed with 457GB average allowance (ranging from 15GB to 1,000GB). Spain was the cheapest market in terms of the average monthly subscription at $17.39 PPP. Given the low average data cap (42GB), France had the highest average cost per GB out of the six markets. It was $1.02 PPP, compared to $0.02 PPP in Spain (Table 2).
Table 2. Average data and cost of 4G services in selected countries, $ PPP (Q4 2024). Source: Point Topic
In terms of residential 5G tariffs, Switzerland was again on top by the average data cap (796GB), compared to France with 151GB. In Switzerland, 19 out of 24 residential 5G tariffs offered unlimited data, while in France none of the eleven 5G tariffs were ‘unlimited’.
Figure 5. Tariff benchmarks for residential 5G services in six major European economies
France also had the highest average cost per GB ($0.32 PPP), compared to $0.08 PPP in Switzerland (Table 3). The latter, however, had the highest average monthly tariff.
Table 3. Average data and cost of 5G services in selected countries, $ PPP (Q4 2024). Source: Point Topic
To compare the prices that residential customers pay for unlimited monthly 4G and 5G data in various European markets, we selected the countries which offered such tariffs in Q4 2024 (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Entry level monthly charge for unlimited data on residential 4G and 5G tariffs
The entry level unlimited data 4G tariffs in the countries at the high end of the spectrum (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Slovenia) were up to seven times higher than those at the low end (Switzerland). For 5G tariffs, the difference was more than 1 to 8 ($74.41 PPP in Czech Republic compared to $8.29 PPP in Romania). Of course, in addition to unlimited data allowance, there will be other features of the unlimited data tariff plans that will influence the price, so this data should not be interpreted in isolation.
Country ranking
Comparing countries by using the average price of mobile broadband subscriptions is a straightforward idea but the variation in entry level versus median and average costs can be significant. To provide a better way of comparing them, we used the $PPP data on entry level, median and average tariffs, produced rankings and then compared the variance (Table 4).
Table 4. Country scorecard by residential 4G and 5G tariffs, Q4 2024. Source: Point Topic
Compared to Q3 2024, The Netherlands dropped down the 5G tariff rankings (from 3rd to 8th) and the UK from 6th to 11th, while Slovenia has climbed up from the last position to being within the top ten markets (by the median tariff rank). These are just a few examples of changes in the rankings quarter-on-quarter.
The ‘variance’ column shows how different ranks for the different metrics are spread. We can see that the wide spread in Switzerland (5G tariffs) and Hungary (4G) for example, is represented by high variance. In both countries, the entry level tariff ranking is significantly higher (better) than the median and average tariff rankings. It suggests that while consumers can get good entry level prices, overall the mobile data tariffs in these markets are relatively more expensive than in other European countries. At the other end of the scale, countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Ireland rank rather consistently for both 4G and 5G tariffs.
3.2 Business Tariffs
In Q4 2024, we recorded 158 4G-only business tariffs and 384 ‘5G capable’ business tariffs. The average 4G business tariff varied from $10.72 PPP in Romania to $60.87 PPP in Spain (Figure 7). Romania also had the lowest average monthly charge for 5G access at $8.29 PPP, with Norway being the most expensive at $99.22 PPP. 14 countries out of 30 had an average 4G business tariff higher than the European average of $38.58 PPP. For 5G the average business tariff in Europe was $54.46 PPP, with 11 countries exceeding it. Interestingly, the average European 5G business tariff stayed exactly the same as in the previous quarter, while the 4G average dropped from $40.61 PPP to $38.58 PPP.
Figure 7. Average business 4G and 5G monthly tariff in $PPP
Switzerland and Greece led in terms of the average 4G data included in the tariffs, with unlimited data on offer (Figure 8). In fact, in both countries this was higher than the average 5G data allowance. Germany was at the bottom with 24GB average data cap on 4G.
Figure 8. Average monthly data allowance in gigabytes, business 4G and 5G tariffs
Latvia and Ireland offered businesses the highest average 5G data (unlimited / 1,000GB), while Belgium was at the bottom of the ranking with 201GB average data cap. The average 5G data cap in the 30 European countries was 524GB (down from 557GB in Q3), compared to 384GB (up from 372GB) on 4G tariffs.
In terms of the cost per GB of data on 5G, Norway was the most expensive at $0.46 PPP. Romania remained at the top with the lowest cost per GB for both 5G and 4G data ($0.01 and $0.02 PPP respectively). Germany came at the bottom of the 4G cost per GB ranking with $2.32 PPP, given the low average data cap in the country (Table 5). The European average cost per GB was $0.14 PPP for 5G (down from $0.17 PPP) and $0.31 PPP for 4G (down from $0.49 PPP in Q3 2024). So, 5G tariffs continue offering better value for money overall, similar to residential services, though this varies on a country by country basis.
Table 5. Average cost per GB of 4G and 5G data in $PPP, business tariffs, Q4 2024. Source: Point Topic
Selected country benchmarks
Looking at selected six European economies, Sweden and the Netherlands offered businesses the highest average 5G data at 511GB and 506GB respectively (Figure 9).
Figure 9. Tariff benchmarks for business 5G services in six major European economies
United Kingdom offered the least data on average at 212GB. The Netherlands and Sweden also had the lowest cost per GB with $0.07 PPP and $0.09 PPP respectively.
Table 6. Average data and cost of 5G services in selected countries, $ PPP (Q4 2024). Source: Point Topic
In the unlimited data category, Romania once again stood out as the lowest cost market - it offered the cheapest unlimited 5G tariffs with the average of $5.52 PPP, while Hungary was the most expensive in this respect with $98.78 PPP (Figure 10). For 4G these figures varied from $ 3.87 PPP in Romania to $162.24 in France.
Figure 10. Entry level monthly charge for unlimited data on business 4G and 5G tariffs
Romania, Austria, Hungary and Norway, among others, were among the consistently ranking markets in terms of median, entry and average 5G and 4G tariffs in Q4 2024 (Table 7).
Table 7. Country scorecard by business 4G and 5G tariffs, Q4 2024. Source: Point Topic
Why such marked differences between countries?
There is no simple clear-cut explanation as many factors come into play. The length of time after the 4G/5G networks were launched, take-up rates, the market shares of ‘standalone’ and of multi-play bundles, the extent of competition from fixed broadband services with comparable bandwidth, the availability and the cost of 4G/5G spectrum, the regulatory pressures to offer mobile broadband services in remote and rural areas as a priority, the demographic characteristics and life-styles of the users and the cord-cutting tendencies will all have influenced the 4G and 5G offerings available in different European markets.
[1] Note: for comparison purposes we assigned 1,000 GB data cap to ‘unlimited data’ tariffs.
Appendix: Notes on methodology
This analysis refers to the figures and charts that can be found in our mobile operator tariff benchmark spreadsheet. It is available to our subscribers – check our blog to access the relevant post with the spreadsheet attached to it.
If there is a particular element that you cannot find or have any questions please contact us on tariffs@point-topic.com.
Coverage and methodology
A full set of mobile broadband tariff data is available for download as part of Point Topic's Mobile Operator Tariffs Service. The dataset contains the most recent quarterly tariff information including such details as monthly rental, bandwidth, data allowance, equipment costs, service features and special offers.
Price comparison issues
This analysis is intended as a general indicator of the trends in 4G/5G service pricing across Europe. There are several additional variables that complicate the process of making a direct comparison of mobile broadband tariffs. They need to be taken into account when making a more in-depth analysis:
Device charges: Some 4G/5G monthly tariffs include all charges for devices, for example routers or dongles, whereas others come with additional monthly or one-off (upfront) costs which can be substantial. These additional charges are excluded from this analysis but can be found in the dataset.
Bundling: Increasingly, mobile operators are entering the multi-play arena by bundling their mobile broadband services with fixed voice services, fixed broadband and TV. The Mobile Broadband Tariffs dataset provides access to a sample of multi-play bundles from Europe but the analysis presented in the current report only refers to ‘standalone’ mobile broadband tariffs which include mobile data and sometimes calls/SMS. Note: although 4G/5G tariffs which come with a device may be regarded as bundles, we refer to them as standalone mobile broadband tariffs as the device such as a modem is regarded as ‘equipment’, in line with our fixed broadband tariff methodology.
Data allowances: Some operators offer entry level services with very low data caps. From Q1 2017, the minimum data allowance we include is 1 GB per month. In most cases, these limits are generous enough for a typical user and, in some cases, even comparable to those offered by fixed broadband providers. An increasing number of tariffs are offered with ‘unlimited’ data usage. To make it possible to include these tariffs in our calculations, we assigned 1,000 GB per month to the unlimited data tariffs. Also, an increasing number of operators include in their tariffs data for roaming in Europe.
Downstream and upstream speeds: Some operators do not report mobile broadband speeds, not least because they are so variable. Others do, and where this is the case we record the theoretical maximum speed. In reality, the actual speed can be significantly lower depending on various factors. This should be taken into account when comparing 4G/5G services with fixed broadband, for example.
In other words, we are trying to be very clear about what we are measuring, analysing and reporting. One could raise questions with regards to any section of this analysis. Should we include all tariffs – those coming with smartphones, other devices and SIM only ones – in cross country comparisons? Do we look at the range of services on offer or do we pick the single entry level tariff from the most popular provider? As ever the answer is to pick whatever best suits your needs. Users are urged to be careful with all outputs and read the titles and descriptions to extract the best understanding.
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