The digital divide between countries with widespread broadband access and those without is growing, says the European Commission.

Across the region, overall numbers are rising. But while the best performing ­ such as Denmark and the Netherlands ­ have a third of people using high-speed links, at the bottom of the league Bulgaria’s rate is only six per cent.

“It is unacceptable that the gap between the strongest and weakest is growing,” said EU telecoms commissioner Viviane Reding. “Europe must get its broadband house in order now.”

Broadband for all will be a key plank of the EU Telecoms Rules reforms to be tabled next month.

Overall, European connections rose by 29 per cent to 90 million in the last year.