Romania in the digital age: top internet in the EU, but lags behind in skills and digital services
Romania is in a paradoxical situation in the European digital transformation: it has one of the best fixed internet infrastructures in the European Union, but it consistently ranks among the last states in digital skills, the digitization of the administration and the use of advanced technologies in the economy.
Romania has top internet in the EU, but lags behind in terms of skills
The reports of the European Commission within the “Digital Decade 2030” program, which annually monitors the progress of the member states towards the digital objectives of the European Union, show that our country has one of the best internet connectivity.
Digital infrastructure: one of the few strengths
Romania continues to be one of the European countries with the best fixed internet connectivity, especially through fiber optic networks. According to the European Commission's “State of the Digital Decade 2025” report, the country is doing well in terms of basic infrastructure, especially in terms of high-speed Internet access.
This advantage supported the development of the IT sector and digital services, Romania becoming a regional hub for outsourcing and software development.
However, the report points out that good infrastructure is not sufficiently exploited economically, due to a low level of digitization in other areas.
Digital skills: Romania's main gap
Romania's greatest vulnerability remains its digital human capital. According to Eurostat, only about a third of Romanians have basic digital skills, while the European Union average exceeds 50%.
This difference has direct effects on the economy: from the reduced use of online services to difficulties in adopting new technologies in companies.
Without digital skills, performing infrastructure is used below its potential.
Public administration: digitization underway, but fragmented
The digitization of public administration is one of the main objectives of the “Digital Decade 2030” European program, but Romania remains below the EU average in this regard.
Digital public services exist and have expanded in recent years, including in the fiscal area through the platforms of the National Fiscal Administration Agency (ANAF), but the European Commission shows that they are not sufficiently integrated and easy to use at the national level.
In practice, interaction with the state often remains mixed, with digital procedures paralleling traditional processes.
The digital economy in companies: big differences between sectors
At the level of companies, Romania has a dual economy from a digital point of view.
On the one hand, the IT sector is highly competitive and export-oriented, contributing significantly to the economy. On the other hand, most small and medium-sized enterprises have a low level of digitization.
According to the European Commission, the adoption of advanced digital technologies – including cloud, artificial intelligence and automation – remains below the European average among SMEs in Romania.
Urban vs rural: two speeds of digitalisation
Another important imbalance is that between urban and rural environments. In big cities, digital services are already part of everyday life, from online payments to digital banking and interaction with public institutions.
In rural areas, however, access to digital services and the level of digital skills are lower, which amplifies economic and social differences between regions.
The reports of the European Commission within the “Digital Decade 2030” program constantly show the same diagnosis: Romania has the technological base, but still fails to transform this base into a generalized economic advantage.
