Posted: 23rd Oct, 2010 By: MarkJ
The European Commission (EC) has released the results of its latest
Consumer Markets Scoreboard. The study found that internet access was the third worst ranking market, receiving the most problems and highest number of consumer complaints.
The study itself ranks consumer markets by looking at indicators such as comparability, consumer trust, consumer satisfaction, problems, complaints, the ease of switching providers and prices.
ISPs performed so poorly that the EU will now need to
conduct a special market study to investigate, in-depth, the reasons behind the findings and to identify policy remedies.
Report Statement
The Scoreboard data show that internet service provision is the third worst ranking market according to the MPI while being the market where the highest percentage of consumers reported problems (out of the total of 50 markets).
The estimated price of internet service provision also shows a wider variation across Member States which is however correlated with the total level of consumption in these countries. Internet service provision is essential for the empowerment of European citizens and the digital single market.
Therefore, this will be the target of one market study. The study will complement the evidence in the annual reports on the implementation of e-communication regulation.
Sadly the EU doesn't say when this study will be conducted, although we'll keep you all informed.
4th EU Consumer Markets Scoreboard (PDF)
http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/strategy/docs/4th_edition_scoreboard_en.pdf