Brussels, 22/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - A study published on Thursday 22 October by the European Commission demonstrates that fixed broadband users in Europe are only obtaining an average of 75% of the connection speed promised by their respective operator.
Despite the average actual download speed significantly increasing from 30 Mbps in 2013 to 38 Mbps in 2014, due to continuous investment in broadband networks, the Commission deplores the fact that the difference between advertised and real speed remains constant. This is why the Commission is requesting operators to be more transparent and is giving users more rights through its new rules for a Telecoms Single Market that will enter into force soon.
The new telecoms framework is expected to be ratified by the European Parliament on 27 October next, after its formal adoption by the Council of Ministers (see EUROPE 11401). The Vice President of the European Commission, Andrus Ansip, in charge of the Digital Single Market Strategy, is delighted with the forthcoming entry into force of the new framework, despite the inter-institutional negotiations having been delayed on questions such as roaming and net neutrality (see EUROPE 11347). He emphasised that “I am waiting for this final stage, after the intense efforts made to reach a better agreement for Europeans… The data published today demonstrate that the operators are still not respecting their promises when Internet broadband is being purchased. With the new rules to be adopted next week, we are calling for more transparency and we will give more power to consumers”. The Commission is pleased, however; that the study has confirmed that access to broadband has become less expensive and that regional coverage has expanded with substantial expansions in fixed broadband and mobile 4G infrastructure. (Original version in French by Isabelle Lamberty)