Iceland Speed Test - Check Siminn, Nova Internet Speeds

Fiber Broadband

Iceland's fixed broadband backbone runs on two major fiber-to-the-home networks. Mila operates GPON and XG-PON infrastructure covering most urban areas outside central Reykjavik. Ljosleidarinn runs a point-to-point ethernet network that reaches 100% of the Reykjavik capital area.

Both networks offer residential speeds starting at 1 Gbps, with 2.5, 5, and 10 Gbps tiers available. A third regional network, Tengir, provides fiber to Akureyri and towns in northeast Iceland with speeds above 1 Gbps. A fiber ring roughly following Route 1 (the Ring Road) connects most towns and cities across the country.

International connectivity relies on four submarine cables. FARICE-1 (2003) links Iceland to the United Kingdom and Faroe Islands with 11 Tbps across 2 fiber pairs. DANICE (2009) connects to Denmark with 36.4 Tbps across 4 fiber pairs.

Greenland Connect (2009) reaches Newfoundland, Canada and Greenland with 12.8 Tbps across 2 fiber pairs. IRIS (2023) is the newest and largest cable, running to Galway, Ireland with 108 Tbps initial capacity across 6 fiber pairs. Combined capacity exceeds 168 Tbps, providing substantial redundancy for a nation of under 400,000 people.

Mobile Networks

Mobile infrastructure includes nationwide 4G LTE covering 98% of inhabited areas. 5G launched on 3500 MHz (n78) spectrum, with Siminn targeting 90% population coverage by mid-2025 through its partnership with Ericsson. Nova and Vodafone also operate 5G networks primarily in Reykjavik, Akureyri, and Keflavik. Combined 5G coverage reaches approximately 80% of the population.

Data Centers

Iceland has become a major data center hub. The country's electricity comes 100% from renewable sources - roughly 80% hydroelectric and 20% geothermal. Cold ambient temperatures reduce cooling costs.

Data centers now account for 5% of Iceland's GDP, with operators like atNorth, Verne, and Nscale running facilities powered entirely by renewable energy. This infrastructure supports AI workloads requiring high-density computing.

Crusoe, Nebius, and other cloud providers expanded Iceland operations in 2025 to serve European and North American customers.

Urban Areas

Greater Reykjavik holds roughly two-thirds of Iceland's population and enjoys the best connectivity. Ljosleidarinn provides full fiber coverage across the capital area, while Mila offers competing fiber infrastructure. Residents can choose between Siminn, Vodafone, Nova, and Hringdu for retail service.

5G coverage is available throughout the metro area. Typical fiber speeds exceed 500 Mbps in practice, with 1-10 Gbps plans widely subscribed.

Larger towns outside Reykjavik - Akureyri (19,000), Reykjanesbaer (19,000), Hafnarfjordur (29,000) - also have fiber access through Mila or regional networks like Tengir in the northeast. Akureyri has 5G coverage and fiber speeds matching the capital. Mid-sized towns along the Ring Road generally have fiber or are scheduled for connection under the 2026 target.

Rural Areas

Remote areas face different conditions. The Westfjords, parts of East Iceland, and highland regions have limited options. Some locations rely on VDSL, ADSL, or fixed wireless connections with speeds well below the national average.

Mobile coverage can be intermittent in the highlands and along remote stretches between towns. The government's 100% fiber target aims to close this gap by 2026, but geography and low population density make last-mile connections expensive. Fishing villages and farms in isolated fjords represent the hardest-to-reach locations.

Siminn dominates the Icelandic broadband market with 45.5% share. The company traces its roots to the state telephone monopoly, privatized in 2005. Siminn offers fiber broadband, mobile (4G/5G), television, and fixed-line telephone services.

Its mobile network

Its mobile network covers over 99% of the population. Siminn partnered with Ericsson for 5G infrastructure deployment targeting 90% population coverage by mid-2025.

Vodafone Iceland (operated by Syn hf)

Vodafone Iceland (operated by Syn hf) holds 24.4% of the broadband market. Vodafone provides fiber, mobile, and bundled services. The company operates its own 5G network in major population centers and competes aggressively on bundle pricing.

Nova captures 17.7% market share and positions itself as the challenger brand. Nova launched Iceland's first 5G network in 2020 and delivers gigabit speeds in locations like Vestmannaeyjar.

In June 2025, Nova introduced business packages combining fiber, 4.5G, and 5G connectivity with VoLTE and VoWiFi. Nova's mobile coverage is strongest in and around Reykjavik, with limited rural reach compared to Siminn.

Hringdu

Hringdu holds 9.3% of the market. The company focuses on residential fiber broadband and competes primarily on price. Smaller ISPs and resellers fill niche segments but hold minimal market share. All retail ISPs purchase wholesale fiber access from Mila or Ljosleidarinn, creating a competitive retail layer on shared infrastructure.

Iceland's broadband pricing reflects the country's high cost of living. Basic fiber at 1 Gbps starts around 5,000-6,000 ISK per month (approximately $36-43 USD). Higher-speed tiers of 2.5-10 Gbps cost more but remain available from both wholesale networks.

The average monthly broadband subscription cost was $76 USD in 2024. Bundled packages combining fiber, TV, and mobile are common, with Siminn and Vodafone offering the most extensive bundle options.

Mobile data costs align with European norms. Prepaid tourist SIM cards cost 2,690-3,190 ISK ($19-23 USD) for 10-20 GB. Residential mobile plans include generous data allowances. Iceland does not impose data caps on most fixed broadband plans.

At the median Icelandic salary of roughly 700,000 ISK per month, broadband at 5,000-8,000 ISK represents less than 1.2% of income. This makes Iceland one of the most affordable countries for high-speed internet relative to earnings. The open-access wholesale model keeps retail prices competitive by allowing multiple ISPs to sell services over the same fiber infrastructure.

Fiber dominates Iceland's broadband landscape. As of late 2024, 93.1% of broadband connections use optical fiber (FTTH). VDSL and ADSL serve a shrinking portion of subscribers in areas awaiting fiber deployment. Cable broadband plays almost no role in Iceland's market, unlike most European countries.

5G rollout accelerated through 2025. Siminn, Nova, and Vodafone all operate 5G networks on the 3500 MHz band. The government-mandated 2G/3G shutdown by end of 2025 frees spectrum for advanced mobile services. Users in Reykjavik regularly achieve 5G download speeds above 200 Mbps.

Iceland's data center sector is growing rapidly. Renewable energy (100% hydro and geothermal), cold climate for natural cooling, and strong submarine cable connectivity attract hyperscale and AI workloads.

Data centers account for 5% of GDP and continue expanding with new facilities from Crusoe, Nebius, Verne, and Nscale announced in 2025. This growth drives further investment in international bandwidth and domestic fiber capacity.