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| Mobile phone roaming charges face EU study | Mobile phone roaming charges face EU study |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A consultation aimed at quickening the speed at which EU mobile roaming charges fall to the same level as domestic calls has been launched by the European Commission. | A consultation aimed at quickening the speed at which EU mobile roaming charges fall to the same level as domestic calls has been launched by the European Commission. |
| The Commission, which regulates telecoms services in the EU, told firms in May to remove the difference between roaming and national tariffs by 2015. | The Commission, which regulates telecoms services in the EU, told firms in May to remove the difference between roaming and national tariffs by 2015. |
| It set a cap for charges at the time. | It set a cap for charges at the time. |
| But it says companies are charging close to this cap and are making unjustifiably high profits on roaming. | |
| The cap was meant as an interim measure to encourage companies to lower prices in readiness for the new rules in 2015. | The cap was meant as an interim measure to encourage companies to lower prices in readiness for the new rules in 2015. |
| The Commission has now launched a public consultation on how to improve matters and is seeking the views of consumers and businesses on how to reach its target of a flat charge for phone usage within the 27-EU countries. | The Commission has now launched a public consultation on how to improve matters and is seeking the views of consumers and businesses on how to reach its target of a flat charge for phone usage within the 27-EU countries. |
| The target applies to prices for voice calls, text and data services. | The target applies to prices for voice calls, text and data services. |
| 'Open mind' | 'Open mind' |
| Data-roaming bills for travellers have been automatically limited since July to 50 euros (£42.30, $66.09) a month to avoid huge bills being run up. | Data-roaming bills for travellers have been automatically limited since July to 50 euros (£42.30, $66.09) a month to avoid huge bills being run up. |
| Roaming voice call costs have been capped at 0.39 euro cents a minute (excluding VAT), while the cost of receiving a call while travelling cannot exceed 0.15 euro cents a minute. | Roaming voice call costs have been capped at 0.39 euro cents a minute (excluding VAT), while the cost of receiving a call while travelling cannot exceed 0.15 euro cents a minute. |
| The EU's Digital Agenda Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, said in a statement. "We need to address the source of current problems, namely a lack of competition, and to find a durable solution. But we are keeping an open mind on exactly what solution would work." | The EU's Digital Agenda Commissioner, Neelie Kroes, said in a statement. "We need to address the source of current problems, namely a lack of competition, and to find a durable solution. But we are keeping an open mind on exactly what solution would work." |
| The consultation will run until February next year and will provide a basis for a review of current EU roaming rules which the Commission will present to the European Parliament and Council by June 2011. | The consultation will run until February next year and will provide a basis for a review of current EU roaming rules which the Commission will present to the European Parliament and Council by June 2011. |