In terms of fixed internet use, 61 percent of consumers said they had broadband access in the latest survey, up 5 percent points from the last survey. The countries showing the strongest increase in broadband penetration were Romania (+11), Hungary (+11), Bulgaria (+10) and Cyprus (+10).
The survey also found that around one-third of EU citizens (34%) use the internet to make cheaper phone calls over VoIP, an increase from 27 percent since December 2011. Among those with mobile phones, one in five said they used their mobile plan to make cheaper calls over VoIP. Over half of all respondents said they limit their national and international mobile phone calls due to concerns about cost.
In addition to assessing access to communications services, the survey included a number of questions on consumers' perceptions of the quality and cost of services. Part of these results were released earlier by the European Commission. It will use the survey results to help draft market reforms aimed at improving the single market in telecom services, including 'net neutrality' guidelines, which should be presented this autumn to parliament.
