An EU-wide survey of 27,000 households has revealed the emergence of
new consumption patterns in telecoms services in Europe. Technological
progress and competition have brought more choice to European
consumers; 24% of households have given up their fixed telephone in
favour of mobile phones while 22% of them are using their computer from
home to make phone calls over the Internet. In an increasing number of
Member States, European households are using wireless access to connect
to the Internet, via mobile or satellite networks. Meanwhile, 29% of
European households buy bundled telecoms and media packages, an
increase of nearly 10% since last year. Nevertheless, the top priority
for consumers in this fast evolving environment remains the quality of
services.
Here are the key findings of the third EU-wide household survey published by the European Commission today:
- Users are increasingly switching from fixed to mobile phones
with around 24% of EU 27 households just using mobile. The proportion
is significantly higher in the new Member States (39%) than in the EU
15 (20%), with the exception of Finland (61%) and Portugal (48%). In
some Member States this increase is accompanied by an increased use of
wireless access to the Internet via the mobile phone network or
satellite (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Italy).
- 22%
of European households with Internet connections now use their PC for
making phone calls. This figure is twice as large in Latvia (58%),
Lithuania (51%), Czech Republic (50%), Poland (49%) and Bulgaria (46%).
- 29%
of European households buy two or more telecom and media products from
a single service provider (an increase of 9% since winter 2007), the
combination of fixed telephony and Internet access being the most
common.
- Almost half of European households have access to
the Internet (49%) and an increasing majority enjoy a broadband
connection (36% of EU 27, an increase of 8% since winter 2007). Most
connected households access the Internet via an ADSL line (59%, an
increase of 4% compared to last year). The main reason quoted for not
having an access at home remains the lack of interest in Internet (50%
of respondents).
- 22% of European households have difficulty
contacting their Internet service provider about connection problems. A
similar number said the cost of the support they get is not affordable.
- One in four mobile users is not always able to connect to the mobile network to make a phone call. 28% are sometimes cut off.
- More
households are receiving digital terrestrial television: an increase of
5% since winter 2007 to now 12% of EU 27 households. The share of
households with analogue television reception via an aerial has fallen
from 45% to 41%.
- One in ten EU households receives
television by more than one means (aerial, cable, satellite, Internet).
The figure is even higher in France (25% of households), UK (22%),
Italy (19%), Sweden (19%), and Cyprus (16%).
