EU telecom revenues rise, regulatory hurdles remain

European Union telecoms revenues rose 1.3 percent to above 300 billion euros last year but more consistent enforcement of competition rules would boost market efficiency, the bloc's executive body said on Wednesday. EU Telecoms Commissioner Viviane Reding said in her annual scorecard that Europe led the world in mobile phone services, with rising competition pushing down the average monthly mobile bill to 19.49 euros ($26.50) last year from 21.48 euros in 2007. The sector outperformed the broader EU economy but there was still a need for fully independent telecoms regulators at national level in some countries to enforce the bloc's telecom rules and ensure full competition.