The European Commission has published the latest Special Eurobarometer survey on electronic communications, revealing high levels of access to digital services across the EU, alongside growing concerns over fraud and mixed experiences with roaming.

According to the survey, nearly all Europeans (97%) have access to a mobile phone, while 41% still use a fixed telephone. Internet access is widespread, with 85% of households connected. Notably, 40% of respondents reported having gigabit-speed internet connections at home, although only 29% said their current connection fully meets their needs.

Fraud on the rise

The survey highlights a significant increase in fraudulent communications. Nineteen percent of respondents said they received a call from an unknown number and were charged after answering or calling back — a rise of six percentage points since 2020. A similar share (19%) reported receiving unsolicited messages that resulted in unexpected charges, up seven percentage points over the same period.

Roaming experience mostly positive, but issues remain

Roaming within the EU continues to be viewed positively, with 78% of travellers saying they benefit from roaming without additional charges. A majority (61%) reported no reduction in mobile internet speeds or network quality while abroad. However, nearly one in five travellers (19%) said they were surcharged for roaming services.

Despite the “roam like at home” policy, many users remain cautious: 34% said they switched off data roaming when travelling in the EU, and 25% turned off their mobile phones entirely.

Emergency communications

The survey inquired about the awareness of the EU’s 112 emergency number, with 75% of the respondents indicating that they are aware of the number.

Romania: lower fixed-line use, high mobile access, cautious roaming behaviour

According to the country fact sheet , in Romania, mobile access is nearly universal (98%), but home internet penetration (77%) and fixed-line usage (7%) remain below the EU average. While most households bundle services, Romanian consumers report slightly lower satisfaction with internet speeds and place strong emphasis on price and connection quality when choosing providers. Fraudulent calls and messages are also a concern, with around one in five users affected.

When travelling in the EU, Romanians are more cautious than the EU average: only 73% say they benefit from roaming without surcharges, and many limit data use, switch off roaming, or even their phones altogether. Awareness of the 112 emergency number is relatively high domestically (85%), but drops when abroad.