not as cheap as us at the moment 
british families are watching more television, sending more text messages and enjoying the lowest prices, a study by the communications watchdog has found.
Television viewing has increased in the UK but Americans watch far more
TV watching surged more in the UK in the last year compared with the European average, according to Ofcom.
Brits now catch 3.8 hours of programming a day, up 3.2 % compared to 2007.
American viewers still watch the most TV, at 4.6 hours a day, significantly higher than the European average of 3.5 hours.
Texting has also become more popular. UK mobile users sent 83 billion SMS messages in 2008 but were beaten into second place by Americans who sent ten times as many.
But the cost of communication services is lower in Britain compared with the other countries surveyed.
Texting has increased
A typical 'basket' of services, including a landline phone, several mobiles, broadband internet and a basic pay-TV package, was cheapest in the UK for three out of five of the family types tested.
The lowest price available for UK users was ?102, 28% lower than in Italy, the second cheapest country for communications.
Competition has benefited UK consumers by making services cheaper, Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards said.
"Innovation means that the UK is well placed in the take-up and availability of digital services," he added.
Ofcom looked at countries including France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the US, Russia, India, China and Brazil.
The communications market is now believed to be worth ?548bn.
british families are watching more television, sending more text messages and enjoying the lowest prices, a study by the communications watchdog has found.
Television viewing has increased in the UK but Americans watch far moreTV watching surged more in the UK in the last year compared with the European average, according to Ofcom.
Brits now catch 3.8 hours of programming a day, up 3.2 % compared to 2007.
American viewers still watch the most TV, at 4.6 hours a day, significantly higher than the European average of 3.5 hours.
Texting has also become more popular. UK mobile users sent 83 billion SMS messages in 2008 but were beaten into second place by Americans who sent ten times as many.
But the cost of communication services is lower in Britain compared with the other countries surveyed.
Texting has increasedA typical 'basket' of services, including a landline phone, several mobiles, broadband internet and a basic pay-TV package, was cheapest in the UK for three out of five of the family types tested.
The lowest price available for UK users was ?102, 28% lower than in Italy, the second cheapest country for communications.
Competition has benefited UK consumers by making services cheaper, Ofcom Chief Executive Ed Richards said.
"Innovation means that the UK is well placed in the take-up and availability of digital services," he added.
Ofcom looked at countries including France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the US, Russia, India, China and Brazil.
The communications market is now believed to be worth ?548bn.
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