Insights European Commission publishes preliminary results of its consultation on internet speed and quality beyond 2020.

The Commission explains that the purpose of the consultation was to assess and understand the need for internet speed and quality better with a view to developing a policy to help investors to deploy future-proof connectivity networks and to ensure that all users can take advantage of the digital economy and society.

The Commission received 1551 replies (1282 responses from individuals, 229 from organisations and 40 unspecified).  The participation from different categories of organisations was balanced overall.

The Commission has identified the following preliminary trends from the responses it received:

  • there is a perception that the use of internet services and applications will increase drastically by 2025 compared with today through both fixed and mobile connectivity;
  • most of the responses showed that there is a clear need for a substantial improvement in connectivity features;
  • while users perceive download speed as the most important feature of fixed connectivity, other fixed connectivity features will gain significant importance in the future, notably upload speeds, latency, reliability and uninterrupted access;
  • respondents seem less concerned by specific features of mobile connectivity compared to the attention paid to those related to fixed connectivity. However, mobile connectivity’s features will become increasingly important in the future;
  • good connectivity is perceived as a necessary condition to achieve the Digital Single Market;
  • many users consider that their needs are not fully fulfilled. Their trust in sufficient future connectivity spontaneously emerging at a satisfactory level of quality and speed is low; and
  • many respondents pointed to the need for policy measures to support the deployment of infrastructure in line with future needs.

The Commission is now carrying out an in-depth analysis of the responses and, it says, a full report will be published online in due course.  The results will feed into the design and implementation of EU policy and future regulation.  For further information, click here.

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