Fieldwork: April 2017 - Publication: July 2018

In order to monitor market trends in the rapidly evolving digital communications landscape, The European Commission's Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology regularly conducts opinion surveys on the topic of electronic communications. These surveys also provide an assessment of how EU citizens and households derive benefits from their competitive and innovative digital environment. Digital technologies and the Internet offer citizens, businesses and governments a range of opportunities. The Commission recognises these opportunities, particularly those in the field of communications. A single connected digital market across Europe could deliver more than €415 billion per year to the EU economy, creating jobs and new sources of employment, as well as boosting growth, competition, investment and innovation. However, there are a range of barriers that prevent citizens, businesses and governments from fully benefitting from the tools and opportunities the digital environment offers. Breaking down these barriers and delivering a Digital Single Market (DSM) is a key priority area for the Commission1. In order for citizens, businesses and public administrations to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by a digital single market, Europe needs a regulatory framework for electronic communications that promotes the deployment of infrastructures which are capable of seamlessly delivering very high-speed connectivity everywhere in Europe, including in rural areas, whilst safeguarding effective competition. In September 2016, the Commission made a legislative proposal for European Electronic Communications Code which aims to achieve these objectives. Rapid adoption by the EU co-legislators is essential. This 10th edition of the report on e-Communications, first launched in 2006, focusses on international communications within the EU, via mobile Internet, instant messaging and social media, along with traditional communication services such as fixed telephony, and the more established mobile telephony and SMS. Other areas covered by this report include: - Mobile and fixed telephone access - Fixed and mobile Internet access - Means of access to television - Penetration of communication bundles and switching providers - Awareness and use of tools to control consumption of mobile services - Awareness of the single European emergency service number 112