The number of mobile phone users in the European Union has again risen sharply over the past 12 months, reaching 379m or 83 per cent of EU citizens, according to a report by the European Commission that will be published later this month.

The annual survey of the Union's telecommunications industry finds the sector is growing strongly, especially in mobile phone and fixed data services. It is expected to expand by 4.6 per cent this year, outpacing gross domestic product growth in the EU and valuing the market at ?277bn (?194bn).