TELECOMS SERVICES : SINGLE MARKET COULD BRING UP TO 110 BN EURO BONUS.

Developing the internal market for electronic communications could bring the EU up to a 110 billion bonus, according a new study, Steps towards a truly internal market for e-communications(1) published by the European Commission, on February 28. The study highlights the importance of building up the electronic communications sector in the drive to develop the digital single market.

"We are wealthier and more competitive because of our single market," said Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes. "But it is not a true single market if the internet and other telecoms are excluded. The digital single market is coffee for the economy, we'd be mad not to drink it."

By boosting competition, increasing economies of scale for telecoms operators and providing all EU citizens with the opportunity to access content and services online throughout the EU, the digital single market could supplement EU domestic product by 0.8% a year.

The Commission study comes within the context of an evaluation of the...