The European Commission wants mobile roaming charges
to be slashed by 70% from this summer.
The proposal has to be rubber-stamped by both the
European Parliament and the
Council of Ministers, but the commission’s
proposal shows that the mobile industry’s intense lobbying on the
issue has not worked.
The commission says mobile roaming charges to make and receive
calls while abroad are far too high, and it has rejected the
industry’s claims that it is implementing satisfactory cost
reductions.
EU telecoms commissioner Vivian Reding said, “A political
agreement on lower roaming tariffs is now within reach. In this
important phase of the legislative procedure, it is of crucial
importance to ensure that all consumers in the EU will be able to
benefit from lower roaming charges, and that no one is left
behind.”
She said, “I warn against a regulation that would only lead to
lower roaming charges for new customers.
Practically all EU citizens already have a mobile phone contract.
Therefore, such an opt-in clause would deprive most consumers of
the beneficial effects of the new EU regulation.”
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