BRUSSELS, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Vice-President for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip said Thursday that the positive vote of the European Parliament on the portability of online content across borders was an important step in breaking down barriers in the Digital Single Market.
Ansip said in a statement: "the rules voted today mean that, as of the beginning of next year, people who have subscribed to their favourite series, music and sports events at home will be able to enjoy them when they travel in the European Union (EU)."
Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voted to approve new rules that would allow users to enjoy their online film subscriptions when traveling in the EU the same way they do at home.
The new rules apply to TV series and films, as well as digital products such as e-books and songs. However, the access is only available to people who travel to another EU country for a limited period.
The regulation will enter into effect from the first half of 2018 and complements the end of roaming charges, effective as of June 15, 2017.
According to the European Broadcasting Union, nearly 11 percent of European households had a subscription to a video-on-demand service in 2016. That number is estimated to double by 2020.
