Cullen International’s new benchmark shows that nine of the 12 studied countries have already introduced social tariffs to help make telecoms services affordable for end users with low incomes and/or disabilities.

Universal service is a safety net to ensure that all end users have affordable access to the minimum set of services required to fully participate in society and the economy.

The universal service provisions in the European Electronic Communications Code (although not yet transposed everywhere) require EU member states to ensure the affordability of an adequate broadband internet access service and voice communications services at least at a fixed location.

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