A Commission staff working document published on 24 June 2026 assesses Estonia's digital performance against the EU's 2030 Digital Decade targets, finding strong digital public services and advanced tech uptake but weaknesses in connectivity and business cybersecurity. The report is part of the State of the Digital Decade 2026 package, which evaluates each member state's progress.
Estonia set 14 national targets, 93% aligned with EU 2030 goals, and is on track for 83% of its 2025 trajectory points. It addressed 86% of seven Commission recommendations from 2025, with 29% resulting in significant policy changes and 57% in some changes. However, very high-capacity network (VHCN) coverage stands at 81.12%, below the EU average of 85.54%, while fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) at 81.12% exceeds the EU average of 74.13%. Basic 5G coverage is nearly universal at 99.95%, above the EU average of 96.79%.
On business digitalisation, 72.1% of SMEs have basic digital intensity, slightly above the EU average of 71.4%, and AI uptake at 23.4% is above the EU average of 20.0%. Basic digital skills are at 62.5%, above the EU average of 60.4%, but have stagnated. ICT specialists account for 6.8% of employment, above the EU average of 5.0%, but the share is declining.
Estonia allocates EUR 0.2 billion (24% of its Recovery and Resilience Facility allocation) and EUR 0.4 billion (10% of cohesion policy funds) to digital transition. The country participates in the Local Digital Twins European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC), the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, and the Chips Joint Undertaking.
The Commission's recommendations for Estonia focus on increasing ICT specialists, boosting AI uptake, improving basic digital skills, enhancing cybersecurity, fostering unicorns, and advancing the green transition. The report highlights that Estonia is a digital leader in public services and advanced tech but must address connectivity gaps, cybersecurity weaknesses, and stagnating digital skills to meet 2030 targets.
For EU policymakers, the report provides a benchmark for digital progress and identifies areas for targeted support. Estonian businesses face pressure to improve cybersecurity and adopt AI, while connectivity providers may need to invest in VHCN expansion. Citizens could benefit from improved digital skills programmes but may face challenges if skills stagnate. The report also signals to investors that Estonia offers a favourable environment for digital innovation, though connectivity gaps may deter some investment.